US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV4403

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 004403 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KWBG, KPAL, PTER, IS, GAZA DISENGAGEMENT, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS 
SUBJECT: ISRAELI MOD DISCUSSES DISENGAGEMENT AND GROWING 
NUMBER OF TERRORIST ATTACKS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (S)  Summary:  Israel suffered three attacks within the 
span of one hour in an effort to break the calm ("tahdiya") 
and derail the impending disengagement, according to 
Brigadier General Eitan Dangot, Military Secretary to Defense 
Minister Mofaz, who met with the Ambassador and Acting DATT 
on July 13.  Hizballah fired at the IDF post at Rosh Hanikra, 
causing no injuries.  A PIJ member drove a truck laden with 
gas canisters into the Shavei Shomron settlement, injuring 
only himself.  A PIJ suicide bomber detonated an explosive 
charge outside a Netanya mall, killing four and wounding 91 
Israelis.  As a result the IDF resumed operations against PIJ 
in the West Bank in efforts to prevent future terror attacks 
on Israel, as well as to stop the increasing violence prior 
to the disengagement.  As disengagement approaches, Dangot 
explained, the potential negative impact of successful 
attacks increases, particularly in its effect on domestic 
public opinion and support.  Dangot provided a summary of the 
July 12 Security Cabinet meeting, and noted that additional 
meetings are scheduled to take place this month.  The Prime 
Minister expressed his vision that the disengagement would 
result in the end of the military occupation of Gaza.  The 
cabinet approved an MoD request to solicit the international 
community for funding for crossing facilities; and the 
cabinet agreed that areas evacuated within the northern West 
Bank would remain classified as "area C" for the near term. 
End summary. 
 
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PIJ CAMPAIGN? 
------------- 
 
2. (S)  Dangot provided a brief summary of the July 12 
attacks.  Dangot stated that all three attacks took place 
within the span of one hour, and were likely linked.  PIJ, he 
stated, is attempting to provoke a strong Israeli response in 
efforts to destroy the "tahdiya" or calm.  On July 12: 
 
-- A gunman fired several rounds at the IDF position at Rosh 
Hanikra.  The IDF did not respond, he stated, and no one was 
injured in the attack.  The IDF noted that Hizballah had 
vacated posts along the southern border with Israel prior to 
the attack, suggesting the link to Hizballah. 
 
-- A Palestinian drove a small pickup truck loaded with gas 
canisters into the Shavei Shomron settlement.  The driver had 
waited for someone to exit the settlement and drove through 
the open gate.  He detonated the explosive device near the 
settlement's kindergarten, which was no longer in session. 
The Palestinian was severely burned; there were no other 
casualties.  The IDF, Dangot stated, believes that wanted PIJ 
leader Louis Saadi or his deputy was involved in planning the 
attack. 
 
-- A suicide bomber detonated an explosive charge near a mall 
in Netanya, killing four Israelis, severely wounding at least 
six others, and causing a total of 91 to seek medical 
treatment.  PIJ claimed responsibility for the attack.  The 
IDF believes that Tulkarm area PIJ commander Louay Saadi was 
behind the attack.  Saadi, who masterminded the Stage Club 
attack in Tel Aviv on 25 February, is in hiding.  Saadi's 
cell operates in the Tulkarm area, including the villages of 
Atil, Ilar and Saida. 
 
3. (S)  Dangot stated that PIJ-sponsored attacks are 
increasing.  In Gaza, the IDF has tracked PIJ connected 
incidents for the past weeks and has noted a marked increase 
in mortar, Qassam rocket, explosive charge and shooting 
attack against Israelis.  These attacks, he explained, are 
not the work of breakaway PIJ cells, but part of a campaign 
orchestrated by the PIJ headquarters in Damascus.  Damascus 
is pushing the field to conduct attacks against Israel, said 
Dangot. 
 
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PA Inaction 
----------- 
 
4. (S)  The IDF received a number of indications that Saadi 
was planning terror attacks, and passed Saadi's name to the 
PA several months ago.  The GOI requested that PA Minister of 
Interior Nasir Yusif arrest him.  To date, said Dangot, the 
PA has taken little action against the organization.  In 
Tulkarm, eleven PIJ fugitives declined to sign a declaration 
ending terror attacks and refused to surrender their weapons 
to the PA.  In response, the PA centralized them in Tulkarm 
and provided them shelter at night.   Moreover, Dangot noted 
that Mahmud Abbas failed to clearly blame PIJ, during his 
condemnation of yesterday's terror attack. 
 
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Time Running Out 
---------------- 
 
5. (S)  As disengagement approaches, Dangot explained, the 
potential negative impact of successful attacks increases, 
particularly in its effect on domestic public opinion and 
support.  Moreover, such attacks decrease Israel's maneuver 
space, and make risk-taking in security areas more difficult, 
as in the case of Bethlehem, with its close proximity to 
Jerusalem.  Finally, the IDF does not want to begin 
disengagement under the back-drop of increasing violence. 
 
6. (S)  During discussions on transferring security 
responsibility, the IDF warned the PA that it would reenter 
areas transferred to PA security responsibility if the 
Palestinians failed to control attacks on Israelis emanating 
from them.  As a result, the GOI decided last night to take 
action against the PIJ, acting where the PA does not.  Early 
on July 13, the IDF temporarily reentered Tulkarm, and began 
a series of arrests.  During the initial stages of the 
operation, PA security forces fired on, and lightly wounded, 
two soldiers.  When returning fire, the IDF killed two PA 
security forces members. 
 
------------------------ 
Security Cabinet Meeting 
------------------------ 
 
7. (S)  Dangot provided a summary of the previous day's 
Security Cabinet meeting, stating the group would hold two or 
three more meetings on disengagement issues over the next 
month.  During the July 12 discussions, the Prime Minister 
explained his vision that disengagement would mean the end of 
the military occupation in Gaza.  Once completed, there would 
be no symbols of military occupation, including IDF presence 
on the Philadelphi Strip. 
 
8. (S)  The Security Cabinet discussed potential security 
arrangements concerning the ports ) sea, air, and land ) 
but no decisions were made.  It was clear, Dangot stated, 
that the IDF would, over time, leave the Philadelphi Strip, 
following assessment of the effectiveness of the Egyptian 
border deployment, and the effectiveness of the PA security 
forces in combating smuggling and cross-border attacks. 
Dangot stated that Egypt and Israel are still discussing the 
"responsibility" clause, which is holding up agreement on the 
deployment of border guards. 
 
9. (S)  The Security Cabinet looked also at several options 
concerning the Rafah crossing ) leave it as is, shift cargo 
operations to Nitsana, or move to Kerem Shalom.  No decisions 
were made.  Dangot stated that the GOI would look at third 
party supervision of customs and security arrangements, using 
a staged or incremental approach that would help build mutual 
confidence and trust. 
 
10. (S)  The Prime Minister intends to cancel the military 
government in Gaza, Dangott said, but needs a task force from 
Justice, Defense and others to explore new legal rulings on 
how to proceed with the Palestinians.  Concerning the passage 
issue, the Security Cabinet agreed to an interim solution of 
using truck convoys between Gaza and the West Bank for 
door-to-door delivery of cargo in some areas.  A similar 
system, using busses to transport people could also be 
adopted.  Dangot added that details were not examined; a team 
is needed to study possible long-term solutions such as a 
train, sunken road, tunnel, etc. 
 
11. (S)  MoD Director-General Amos Yaron briefed the Security 
Cabinet on the 3-4 terminals in Gaza and some 38 crossing 
points for the West Bank, receiving Cabinet permission to 
solicit funding, estimated at some 500 million USD initially, 
from the international community.  The cabinet also decided 
that the Gaza borders would be based on the 1994 map, and 
would include the territorial exchanges made in 1949-50. 
 
12. (S)  Concerning the West Bank, the Security Cabinet 
decided that there would be no change of status for the four 
areas containing the evacuated settlements for the time 
being.  These areas would remain classified as "C" zones. 
However, the GOI would continue to coordinate issues with the 
PA concerning road construction or other issues.  The 
Ambassador suggested that Israel carefully examine its 
position on Rafah and the Philadelphi Strip, to ensure that 
it had an executable exit strategy. 
 
13. (S)  Comment:  Israel Defense Intelligence assesses that 
the Damascus PIJ headquarters is behind the Tuesday attacks, 
but continues to sift through information in search of a 
"smoking gun."  Dangot was careful to explain that renewed 
IDF operations would continue in the West Bank, but indicated 
that operations in the Gaza strip would be restrained in 
efforts not to fuel a new spiral of violence.  Nonetheless, 
expanded operations against PIJ risk accidental killings of 
bystanders, which would surely fuel a new round of violence. 
Note:  Meeting took place before Hamas attack that killed one 
in Nativ Ha'asara. 
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