US embassy cable - 05JERUSALEM2673

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 002673 
 
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: JUNE 29, 2005 (1800 HOURS LOCAL) -- 
DISENGAGEMENT OPPONENTS CLASH WITH PALESTINIANS IN GAZA; 
IDF RAIDS CONTINUE NEAR TULKARM 
 
 
1.  (SBU) SUMMARY: Five disengagement opponents and one 
Palestinian were lightly wounded in June 28 stone-throwing 
clashes that broke out in al-Mowassi in Gaza. In the West 
Bank, IDF raids continued in the area of Allar, Attil, and 
Saida. Several Palestinian activists suffered minor injuries 
in confrontations with the IDF during an anti-separation 
barrier demonstration near Hebron.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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West Bank 
--------- 
 
2.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: Palestinian sources reported that seven 
Palestinians were lightly wounded by tear gas and 
rubber-coated bullets during clashes with IDF forces that 
erupted on June 28 during anti-separation barrier 
demonstrations near the village of Ramadin, southwest of 
Hebron. 
 
-- Arrests: Two Palestinian minors from al-Arub refugee camp 
were arrested on June 29 for throwing stones at passing cars, 
according to Palestinian sources. 
 
-- Arrests: Palestinian security sources reported that four 
people were arrested in various parts of the West Bank, but 
did not specify the locations or offenses. 
 
-- Attacks: According to Palestinian media reports, an IDF 
jeep came under fire while patrolling Halhoul village, north 
of Hebron, on June 28.  No injuries were reported. 
 
-- Security Incidents: IDF forces continue to conduct raids 
in the area of Allar, Attil, and Saida, all near Tulkarm, 
searching for Wadi Shadid, a senior al-Aqsa Martyrs, 
Brigades member.  Palestinian sources reported that the IDF 
had taken over several houses in the village and turned them 
into military observation points. 
 
3. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: 
 
-- President Mahmoud Abbas met with representatives of Hamas 
and other factions June 28 at the Muq,ata to discuss the 
security situation. 
 
-- PM Ahmad Quraya' announced that the PA would remain in a 
state of emergency until the disengagement plan is 
implemented.  He also stated, according to Palestinian media, 
that the PA will incorporate all wanted activists in Gaza 
into the PA security services. 
 
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Gaza 
---- 
 
4. (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injury: UNRWA reported that IDF soldiers injured one 
Palestinian overnight June 28-29, when the soldiers opened 
fire on two Palestinians attempting to plant a roadside bomb 
near Morag. 
 
-- Injury/Arrests: Israeli media reported that five settlers 
and one Palestinian were lightly injured June 28 in 
al-Mowassi during stone-throwing clashes that broke out 
between Palestinians and approximately 20 Israeli 
disengagement opponents camped in an abandoned house there, 
near the recently demolished outpost dubbed Tal Yam.  Israeli 
police arrested a total of seven settlers June 28, according 
to media reports, and clashes between the soldiers and 
settlers erupted subsequently.  The settlers remained in 
possession of the abandoned building as of 1300 hours, 
although the media reported that the IDF and the police are 
planning to remove them. 
 
-- Mortars/Rockets/Shootings: The IDF reported that 
Palestinian militants fired three mortar shells and launched 
three shooting attacks on IDF and Israeli settler targets in 
the southern Gaza Strip overnight June 28-29.  No injuries 
were reported in any of these attacks. 
 
5. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS: 
 
-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic 
artery, was open June 29, with a major detour at Netzarim 
Junction. 
 
-- Erez Crossing was open June 28, and 4,220 laborers and 410 
merchants crossed into Israel. 
-- The Erez Industrial Zone was open June 28, and 559 
laborers entered. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers June 29, 
but was open for the import of aggregates used in 
construction. 
 
-- Karni Terminal was open June 29. 
 
-- Rafah was open June 29 for both arrivals and departures. 
Palestinians reported that only 100 or so Palestinians per 
day are allowed to move each way and that there is a backlog 
of some 1,000-2,000 people waiting to cross 
 
-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed June 22.  Toufah 
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi, except males 
aged 16-30. 
PEARCE