US embassy cable - 05JERUSALEM1668

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001668 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
NEA FOR FO; NEA/SA/EX FOR AUSTIN-FERGUSON; DEPT FOR 
DS/IP/ITA; DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DANIN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, PBTS, PHUM, KWBG, KPAL, IS, ASEC, Sitrep 
SUBJECT: WB/G SITREP: APRIL 22, 2005 (1600 HOURS LOCAL) -- 
11 PEACE ACTIVISTS INJURED IN THE WEST BANK, TWO SHOOTING 
INCIDENTS IN THE GAZA STRIP RESULT IN NO INJURIES. 
 
This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable. 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: In the West Bank, 11 Palestinian and 
foreign peace activists were lightly injured when hit by 
rubber-coated bullets during clashes with the IDF in the 
village of Bil,in, west of Ramallah, April 21.  The IDF 
found and defused a six-kilogram explosive device near Jenin 
on April 21.  Two detainees who are members of Palestinian 
Islamic Jihad (PIJ) escaped from Tulkarm prison, April 22. 
In the Gaza Strip, the IDF reported two shooting incidents 
April 21, one near Neve Dekalim and one south of an IDF 
outpost at Rafah, but no injuries occurred.  According to 
Israeli media April 22, sources in the Prime Minister's 
office are reporting that Gaza disengagement will be 
postponed until August 15.  End Summary. 
 
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West Bank 
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2. (SBU) ATTACKS/ARRESTS: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: According to Palestinian reports, 11 Palestinian 
and foreign peace activists were lightly injured by 
rubber-coated bullets during clashes with the IDF in the 
village of Bil,in, west of Ramallah, April 21.  Activists 
were protesting construction of the separation barrier on 
lands belonging to village residents. 
 
-- Arrests: According to Palestinian sources, IDF troops 
entered Jenin April 21, conducted a major search operation, 
and arrested three Palestinians. 
 
-- Arrests: According to Palestinian media, the IDF arrested 
four Palestinians in the village of Dahariya, near Hebron, 
April 22. 
 
-- Arrests: According to Palestinian sources, the IDF 
arrested a Fatah activist near Salfit, April 21. 
 
3. (SBU) SECURITY INCIDENTS: 
 
-- According to Palestinian media, the IDF found and defused 
a six-kilogram explosive device in a near Jenin on April 21. 
 
-- According to Palestinian reports, IDF entered Nablus on 
April 21 and surrounded a house in Balata refugee camp.  Two 
members of Al-Aqsa Martyrs, Brigades, who were inside the 
house, engaged in a brief shoot-out with the IDF, but managed 
to escape.  Following the incident, al-Aqsa Martyrs, 
Brigades in Nablus announced that it is no longer committed 
to the Sharm el-Sheikh ceasefire understanding, citing 
continued Israeli operations against militants. 
 
-- According to Palestinian reports, the IDF completely 
sealed off the area around the enclave of settlements in the 
Old City of Hebron, April 21.  Reportedly, shots were fired 
towards settlers, homes prompting the closure. 
 
-- According to Palestinian reports, two detainees, Ahmad 
Radad and Shafiq Marouf, both members of Palestinian Islamic 
Jihad (PIJ), escaped from Tulkarm prison on April 22.  They 
had been arrested in connection to the February 2005 suicide 
bombing in Tel Aviv.  Palestinian Authority (PA) security 
forces are looking for the escapees. 
 
---- 
Gaza 
---- 
 
4. (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: Nil. 
 
-- Mortars/Rockets: The IDF reported that three mortar shells 
exploded April 22, two in the vicinity of an IDF outpost west 
of Khan Yunis and one near Neve Dekalim, but no injuries 
occurred. 
 
-- Shootings: The IDF reported two shooting incidents April 
21, one near Neve Dekalim and one south of an IDF outpost at 
Rafah, but no injuries occurred. 
 
5. (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: Nil. 
6. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS: 
 
-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic 
artery, was open April 22, with a major detour at Netzarim 
Junction.  Abu Khouli checkpoint was closed. 
 
-- Erez Crossing was open for internationals and for a 
limited number of Palestinians April 21, and 1,665 laborers 
and 82 merchants crossed into Israel. 
 
-- The Erez Industrial Zone was open April 21.  The number of 
laborers who entered was not available. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers April 
22, but was open for the import of aggregates used in 
construction. 
 
-- Karni Terminal was open April 22. 
 
-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures April 
22. 
 
-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed April 22.  Toufah 
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi, except males 
aged between 16-30. 
 
7. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: 
 
-- According to Israeli media April 22, sources in the Prime 
Minister's office are reporting that the evacuation of 
settlers from Gaza will be postponed until August 15.  PM 
Sharon reportedly announced the delay the week of April 11, 
following a request from a Sephardic rabbi that the settlers 
not be forced to move during the three-week period 
commemorating the destruction of the First and Second 
Temples.  That period coincided with the originally scheduled 
evacuation dates. 
Pearce