US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV2996

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002996 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/SA/EX FOR RICHIE; DEPT FOR 
DS/IP/ITA; DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DANIN; USAID 
FOR DCHA, DCHA/FPP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KWBG, PHUM, PREL, PTER, ASEC, CASC, GZ, IS, Sitrep 
SUBJECT: WB/G SITREP: THREE KATYUSHA ROCKETS LAND IN 
ISRAEL; SETTLERS BEAT ELDERLY PALESTINIAN IN THE WEST BANK 
-- MAY 13, 2005 (1300 HOURS LOCAL) 
 
This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable. 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary: Israeli settlers beat and lightly injured 
an elderly Palestinian man working in fields near Salem 
village on May 12, and IDF soldiers arrested 22 settlers for 
entering Palestinian villages near Nablus the same day for a 
demonstration and refusing IDF orders to leave.  The 
arrestees were taken to Ariel police station for questioning 
and then released.  In Gaza, some 45,000 Israelis joined 
settlers in the Gush Katif bloc to celebrate Israeli 
Independence Day and to demonstrate their opposition to the 
GOI plan to evacuate the Gaza settlements.  Three Katyusha 
rockets, reportedly fired from Lebanese territory, landed 
near Har Dov and Shlomi May 11-12.  No injuries were reported 
and the IDF did not respond militarily.  End Summary. 
 
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West Bank 
--------- 
 
2.  (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: Israeli settlers beat and lightly injured an 
elderly Palestinian man working in fields near Salem village 
on May 12, according to Palestinian sources. 
 
-- Injuries: Four Palestinian youths were lightly injured in 
clashes with the IDF in Dura village, near Hebron, on May 12, 
according to Palestinian sources. 
 
-- Arrests:  The IDF arrested 22 settlers for entering 
Palestinian villages near Nablus on May 12 for a 
demonstration and refusing IDF orders to leave, according to 
Israeli media.  The arrestees were taken to Ariel police 
station for questioning and then released. 
 
-- Arrests:  The IDF arrested three Palestinians in Tubas for 
suspected militant activity on May 12, according to 
Palestinian sources. 
 
-- Arrests:  The IDF arrested a Palestinian youth at Huwwara 
checkpoint for carrying a pistol, according to Palestinian 
security sources. 
 
3.  (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: 
 
-- According to the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz on May 13, the 
PA has collected weapons from all fugitives in Jericho and 
has collected weapons from most fugitives in Tulkarm. 
 
---- 
Gaza 
---- 
 
4.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: Nil. 
 
-- Mortars/Rockets: Palestinian militants fired a total of 
five mortar shells at IDF and Israeli settler targets in the 
Gush Katif settlement bloc May 11-13.  No injuries were 
reported. 
 
-- Shootings: The IDF reported that Palestinians launched a 
total of four shooting attacks against IDF outposts around 
the Gush Katif settlement bloc May 11-13.  No injuries were 
reported. 
 
5.  (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS: 
 
-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic 
artery, was open May 12-13, with a major detour at Netzarim 
Junction. 
 
-- Erez Crossing was closed for Palestinians May 11-12, but 
open for internationals. 
 
-- The Erez Industrial Zone was closed May 11-12. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was closed May 12 for Israeli Independence 
Day.  Sufa re-opened May 13 for the import of aggregates used 
in construction. 
 
-- Karni Terminal was closed May 12 for Israeli Independence 
Day, but re-opened May 13. 
 
-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures May 
12-13. 
 
-- Tel al-Sultan and Toufah checkpoints were closed May 
12-13. 
 
6.  (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: 
 
-- Some 45,000 Israelis joined settlers in the Gush Katif 
bloc to celebrate Israeli Independence Day and to demonstrate 
their opposition to the GOI plan to evacuate the Gaza 
settlements, according to Israeli media. 
------ 
Israel 
------ 
 
7.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Israeli media reported that a Katyusha rocket, reportedly 
fired from Lebanese territory, impacted near the town of 
Shlomi May 11.  The rocket landed in an industrial zone to 
the north of the town and damaged a bakery, but no injuries 
were reported.  Two more Katyusha rockets were fired the 
evening of May 12, landing near an IDF outpost on Har Dov. 
IDF troops did not respond to either attack.  The GOI lodged 
a formal protest of these events with the United Nations. 
 
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KURTZER