US embassy cable - 05JERUSALEM3250

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 003250 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
NEA FOR FO; NEA/SA/EX FOR AUSTIN-FERGUSON; DEPT FOR 
DS/IP/ITA; DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA; NSC FOR ABRAMS/MUSTAFA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, PBTS, PHUM, KWBG, KPAL, IS, ASEC, SItrep 
SUBJECT: WB/G SITREP: JULY 27, 2005 (1700 HOURS LOCAL) -- 
TWO PALESTINIANS KILLED, SENIOR PIJ MILITANT ARRESTED IN 
THE WEST BANK; PALESTINIANS INJURED IN A RIOT IN GAZA 
 
 
This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable. 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  In the West Bank, a Palestinian teenager 
was killed when hit by a car driven by an Israeli settler 
near Karmi Tzur settlement.  According to PA security 
sources, an unarmed Palestinian teenager was shot and killed 
by the IDF during an incursion in Jenin July 27.  The IDF 
arrested a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) militant 
during an operation near Tulkarm July 26.  In Gaza, 
Palestinian media reported one or two Palestinians injured 
when IDF troops attempted to control a mob at the Khatif 
junction.  End Summary. 
 
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West Bank 
--------- 
 
2. (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY: 
 
-- Deaths: According to Israeli and Palestinian sources, a 
15-year-old Palestinian was killed after having been hit by 
an Israeli car near the settlement of Karmi Tzur, north of 
Hebron, July 26.  A settler driver of the vehicle was taken 
into custody by Israeli police for questioning. 
 
-- Deaths: According to PA security sources, an unarmed 
Palestinian teenager was shot and killed by the IDF in Jenin 
during an ongoing incursion into the city July 27. 
 
-- Injuries: According to PA security sources, five 
Palestinians and two IDF soldiers were shot and injured in a 
gunbattle in the same operation in Jenin July 27. 
 
-- Injuries: According to Israeli and Palestinian sources, an 
IDF officer was lightly wounded when a car broke through a 
roadblock at Azzun village, near Qalqiliya, July 26. 
 
-- Arrests: According to Palestinian and Israeli media, the 
IDF arrested a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) 
militant, Tamer Hussein Ja'ar, during an operation in the 
village of Ilar, near Tulkarm, July 26.  Ja'ar was linked to 
the suicide bombings in Netanya in July and in Tel Aviv in 
February of 2005.  According to Israeli media, Muhammad Bada, 
assistant to Ja'ar, and a member of Palestinian security 
forces, was also arrested in the raid. 
 
-- Arrests: Palestinian newspapers reported that the IDF 
arrested a Palestinian at the "container" checkpoint near 
Bethlehem after his name appeared as "wanted for questioning" 
on an IDF list July 26. 
 
-- Security Incidents: According to Palestinian and Israeli 
sources, IDF troops discovered a cave with military equipment 
near the village of Azzun, near Qalqiliya, July 26.  The IDF 
uncovered a stockpile of IDF uniforms, ammunition, and a 
number of rifles. 
 
3. (SBU) DEMOLITIONS/CONFISCATIONS: 
 
-- According to Palestinian sources, the IDF demolished three 
Palestinian houses in the al-Khadr village area, west of 
Bethlehem, July 27.  The structures, which reportedly lacked 
building permits, were home to approximately 30 Palestinians. 
 
-- Palestinian media reported that Israeli bulldozers on July 
26 demolished a house in the Jabal Al Mukaber neighborhood of 
East Jerusalem because it did not have a required building 
permit. 
 
-- According to Palestinian newspapers, the IDF on July 26 
demolished two houses that did not have the required building 
permits, one in Funduq and one in Burqin, near Nablus. 
 
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Gaza 
---- 
 
4. (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY: 
 
-- Deaths: None reported. 
 
-- Riot/Injuries: The IDF reported a riot by Palestinians on 
July 26 at the Khatif junction.  Palestinian press claimed 
that one child was wounded when the IDF used tear gas and 
stun grenades.  Other Palestinian press reported that one 
Palestinian was wounded by live fire. 
 
-- Mortar: The IDF reported one shell fired on July 25 at an 
outpost northwest of Khan Yunis. 
 
-- Rocket: UNRWA reported five rockets launched: one at 
Morag, one at Ganei Tal, and three at Tel Qatif. 
 
-- Anti-tank Rocket: UNRWA reported on anti-tank rocket fired 
at an Israeli APC near Zurub. 
 
-- Explosive Device: The IDF reported that soldiers found and 
dismantled an explosive device on July 26 approximately 1.5 
km northeast of the Nachal Oz crossing. 
-- Shootings: The IDF reported shots fired on July 26 at 
soldiers near Rafah Yam.  UNRWA reported that IDF troops 
fired from an operation post into the Zurub area. 
-- Molotov Cocktail: The IDF reported that Palestinians threw 
one Molotov cocktail at Israeli civilians in Gadid on July 26. 
 
-- Demonstrations: According to UNRWA, a small demonstration 
took place at the UNSCO compound in the northern Gaza Strip, 
where approximately 1,000 Palestinians gathered in the 
Nuseirat Camp for a festival.  One hundred of the festival 
participants wore facemasks. 
 
-- Incursion: UNRWA reported that an IDF tank and bulldozer 
cleared an area opposite Abu Sarfya on July 26 and then 
withdrew. 
 
-- Arrests: None reported. 
 
5. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS/INTERNAL CHECKPOINTS: 
 
-- No Palestinians except those holding Jerusalem ID cards 
are currently allowed to use the Erez crossing.  The crossing 
is open for international travelers. 
 
-- The Abu Houli internal crossing was closed again on July 
26. 
 
-- The Erez Industrial Zone was closed. 
 
-- The Karni terminal was partially open. 
 
-- Rafah Terminal was open in both directions, but closed to 
Palestinian males between the ages of 16 and 35. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers but open 
for construction materials. 
 
-- Netzarim Junction at Salahadeen Road was closed. 
 
-- The Netzarim Coastal Road was open. 
 
-- Salahadeen Road was open at Sufa/Morag. 
 
-- The Abu Al-Ajeen bypass road was closed. 
 
--- The Toufah checkpoint was open in both directions, except 
for males between 16 and 30. 
 
6. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: 
 
-- Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz met with PA Minister 
of Civil Affairs Muhammad Dahlan on July 26.  According to 
press accounts, the two discussed the construction of a 
seaport in Gaza as well as transit options for Palestinians 
between the West Bank and Gaza. 
 
-- Defense Minister Mofaz told reporters that he believes 
that the IDF may be able to redeploy from the Philadelphi 
Strip by the first week in October. 
WALLES