US embassy cable - 05JERUSALEM3683

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 003683 
 
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/MUSTAFA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, PBTS, PHUM, KWBG, KPAL, IS, ASEC, SItrep 
SUBJECT: WB/G SITREP: AUGUST 11, 2005 (1700 HOURS LOCAL) -- 
TEN PALESTINIANS INJURED IN BARRIER-RELATED CLASHES; ABBAS 
CALLS FOR FACTIONS OT ENSURE CALM AND ORDERLY GAZA 
WITHDRAWAL 
 
 
This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable. 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  In the West Bank on August 10, ten 
Palestinians were injured during clashes with the IDF over 
construction of the separation barrier west of Ramallah.  In 
Gaza, Israel radio reported August 11 that two Palestinians 
in Rafah were injured when an improvised hand grenade 
exploded.  PA President Abbas and the PLO Executive Committee 
met in Gaza City August 10 and issued a statement calling 
Gaza disengagement a &historic test for the Palestinian 
people,8 and urging that all factions take action to ensure 
a smooth, orderly Israeli pullout from Gaza.  End Summary. 
 
West Bank 
--------- 
 
2.  (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: Ten Palestinians were injured August 10 in 
clashes with the IDF in Liban al-Gharbiya village, west of 
Ramallah. The IDF was protecting Israeli workers building the 
separation barrier, according to Palestinian newspapers. 
 
-- Arrests: The IDF entered Bethlehem and arrested three 
Palestinians on security charges, according to Palestinian 
security sources. 
 
3.  (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: 
 
-- 14 PIJ and al-Aqsa prisoners being held by the Palestinian 
Authority (PA) in the Jericho prison declared a hunger strike 
starting August 12 if the PA does not release them.  The 
prisoners have not been prosecuted/tried, but are jailed for 
allegedly committing serious security offenses. 
 
---- 
Gaza 
---- 
 
4. (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injury:  According to the IDF, a Palestinian source 
claimed that one Palestinian was wounded August 10 when the 
IDF initiated warning shots near the Kissufim Crossing. 
 
-- Injuries: Israel radio reported August 11 that at about 
0930 two Palestinians in Rafah were injured when an 
improvised hand grenade exploded. 
 
-- Shootings: The IDF reported three shootings by 
Palestinians in Gaza August 10: two shootings near the 
Netzarim settlement that targeted IDF patrols, and one near 
the Rafiah Yam settlement that targeted IDF soldiers.  No 
injuries resulted. 
 
-- Mortars: The IDF reported one mortar shell fired August 
10, 16:05 hrs in the vicinity of an IDF outpost near Netzarim 
settlement.  No injuries were reported. 
 
-- Explosive Devices: According to the IDF, Palestinian 
police found two explosive devices near the Sufa Crossing 
August 10, one at 1355 hrs and the other at 1600 hrs.  They 
were both dismantled by the IDF.  No injuries resulted. 
 
-- Explosive Device: The IDF reported that the Palestinian 
police located an explosive device August 10 at 1655 hrs near 
the Elei Sinai settlement.  It was dismantled by the IDF.  No 
injuries resulted. 
 
-- Fire: Israel Radio reported August 11 at 1352 that a fire 
had broken out in a factory in the Erez Industrial Zone. 
 
5. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS/INTERNAL CHECKPOINTS: 
 
-- Erez crossing was open for Palestinians August 11 with 164 
Palestinian laborers and 130 Palestinian merchants used the 
crossing. 
 
-- The Erez Industrial Zone was open August 11, with 404 
Palestinian laborers admitted. 
 
-- Rafah Terminal was open in both directions, but closed to 
Palestinian males between the ages of 16 and 35 on August 11. 
 UNRWA reported that the IDF allowed Palestinian males in 
this age group to cross provided they had coordinated their 
travel with Israeli authorities through PA officials. 
 
-- The Karni terminal was partially open August 11. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers but open 
for construction materials August 11. 
 
-- Netzarim Junction at Salahadeen Road was closed August 11. 
 
-- The Netzarim Coastal Road was open August 11. 
 
-- The Abu Houli internal crossing was open during most 
daylight hours August 11. 
 
-- Salahadeen Road was open at Sufa/Morag August 11. 
 
-- The Abu Al-Ajeen bypass road was closed August 11. 
 
--- The Toufah checkpoint was closed on August 11. 
 
6.  (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: 
 
-- PA President Abbas and the members of the PLO Executive 
Committee met in Gaza City August 10 and issued a statement 
calling Gaza disengagement a &historic test for the 
Palestinian people,8 and urging that all factions take 
action to ensure a smooth, orderly Israeli pullout from Gaza. 
 Abbas separately met with DFLP chief Saleh Zaidan August 10 
to reach agreement on maintaining calm throughout Israel,s 
disengagement from Gaza, and on setting a date for PLC 
elections.  Abbas met with Hamas representatives yesterday, 
and will meet with PFLP and PIJ delegations August 11 on the 
same topics, according to PA political sources. 
 
-- An Israeli military court sentenced Wahid Taysir, a former 
IDF soldier, to eighth years in prison August 11 for the 
fatal April 2003 shooting of Tom Hurndall, a British national 
who was working with the International Solidarity Movement in 
Gaza. 
 
-- Israeli media reported August 11 that the Palestinian 
Islamic Jihad announced it would continue attacks on Israel 
after the pullout. 
WALLES