Cablegate: Wb/G Sitrep: December 6, 2004 (1230 Hrs Local):

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 006149

SIPDIS

NEA FOR BURNS/SATTERFIELD/DIBBLE;
NEA/SA/EX FOR RICHE; DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA;
DEPT FOR DS/IP/ITA; DRL FOR A/S CRANER;
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DANIN;
USAID FOR DCHA, DCHA/FPP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWBG PTER ASEC PHUM CASC KPAL
SUBJECT: WB/G SITREP: DECEMBER 6, 2004 (1230 HRS LOCAL):
IDF ARRESTS 23 PALESTINIANS IN WEST BANK

THIS IS A JOINT MESSAGE FROM CONGEN JERUSALEM AND EMBASSY TEL
AVIV

1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In the Gaza Strip, Palestinian militants
fired a total of 11 mortar shells at IDF soldiers and Israeli
settlers over the December 4-6 weekend. IDF fire injured six
Palestinians in Khan Yunis, and seven Palestinians in Rafah
refugee camp. Israeli border police found sacks containing
ten Kalashnikov rifles and magazines at Har Horesha. In the
West Bank, an IDF soldier was injured by Palestinian
stone-throwing near Takua. IDF forces and Palestinian gunmen
exchanged fire near Sa Nur and Tulkarm. The IDF arrested a
total of 23 Palestinians in locations throughout the West
Bank December 4-5. The IDF demolished one house and two
stores in Jabal Mukabr. End Summary.

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Gaza Strip
----------

2. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Deaths: Nil.

-- Injuries/Mortars: The IDF reported Palestinian claims that
a Palestinian-fired mortar shell south of Katif settlement
injured one Palestinian December 5. Israeli media reported
that Palestinian militants fired one additional mortar shell
during the same incident.

-- Injuries/Shootings: Palestinian media reported that IDF
fire injured six Palestinians in Khan Yunis December 5.

-- Injuries/Shootings: UNRWA reported that IDF fire injured
seven Palestinians in the Rafah refugee camp December 4-5.
Among those injured were a 53-year-old woman, a 60-year-old
woman, a 45-year-old woman, and a 15-year-old boy.

-- Mortars: The Martyr Izz-al-Din al-Qassam Brigades reported
that they fired six mortar shells December 4 in the southern
Gaza Strip. According to the IDF, Palestinian militants
fired three additional mortar shells December 5. One of
these was fired at Netzer Hazani settlement and two were
fired at Neve Dekalim settlement.

-- Rockets: According to Palestinian media, Martyr Izz-al-Din
al-Qassam Brigades fired a rocket at the Nahal Oz settlement
December 4. According to the IDF, Palestinian militants
fired one rocket at Ganei Tal settlement December 5.

-- Shootings: According to the IDF, Palestinian militants
engaged in four instances of shooting at IDF soldiers and
Israeli settlers at locations throughout the Gaza Strip
December 5-6.

-- Explosives/Confiscation: Israeli media reported that
Israeli border policemen found sacks containing 10
Kalashnikov rifles and magazines near Har Horesha on the
Israel-Egypt border December 5.

3. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS/CHECKPOINTS

-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic
artery, was open December 4-5 at both Netzarim and Abu Khouli
checkpoints.

-- The Erez Crossing was closed to Palestinians, but open to
diplomats and some internationals, December 4-6.

-- UNRWA personnel reported that while Erez Industrial Zone
was open December 4-6, they saw very few Palestinian factory
owners entering.

-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian workers, but open
for the import of aggregates used in construction, December
4-6.

-- UNRWA reported that Karni terminal was open with
substantial delays December 4-6.

-- Rafah Terminal was open December 4-6. Palestinian males
between the ages of 16 and 35 were prohibited from crossing.

-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed, but Toufa checkpoint
was open, December 4-6.

4. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

-- Senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant Muhammed
al-Hindi announced in Gaza City December 5 that PIJ would
reject the long-term truce with Israel that Hamas leadership
reportedly cited as a possibility and then rescinded.

---------
West Bank
---------

5. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Deaths: Nil.

-- Injury: An IDF soldier December 3 suffered light injuries
when Palestinians threw stones at a patrol vehicle near the
West Bank settlement of Takua, according to Palestinian
newspapers.

-- Injuries: IDF soldiers December 3 fired tear gas at
Palestinians during an arrest operation in Tubas village
south of Jenin, resulting in several dozen injuries from tear
gas inhalation.

-- Clashes: IDF soldiers December 4 clashed with Palestinians
in Tuqu near Bethlehem after IDF patrols entered the village.

-- Explosives: Palestinians detonated an explosive device
December 4 near IDF soldiers in the old city of Nablus.
There were no injuries reported from this incident.

-- Shootings: Palestinian gunmen December 4 opened fire on an
IDF jeep near the settlement of Sa Nur in the northern West
Bank. There were no injuries reported from this incident.

-- Shootings: Palestinian gunmen and IDF soldiers December 5
exchanged gunfire near Tulkarem. There were no injuries
reported from this incident.

6. (SBU) ARRESTS/SECURITY:

-- Arrests: Israeli forces arrested at least 13 Palestinian
activists in Tulkarem December 4, including the local head of
Hamas, Rami Teikh.

-- Arrests: The IDF arrested three wanted activists December
5, including a PFLP member, near Nablus. IDF sources said
the PFLP activist was preparing to carry out a suicide
attack.

-- Arrests: The IDF arrested ten Palestinians December 5-6,
including a PFLP activist, during arrest operations in
Nablus, Ramallah, Bethlehem, and the Hebron area.

-- Several dozen Palestinians in the village of Bayt Ula west
of Hebron suffered tear-gas inhalation December 5 during a
demonstration protesting the construction of the separation
barrier.

7. (SBU) DEMOLITIONS:

-- The IDF conducted demolition operations in the village of
Jabal Mukabr in East Jerusalem December 6. The IDF
demolished at least one house and two commercial stores for
lacking building permits.

8. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

-- The Palestinian leadership--PLO Chairman Abu Mazen,
Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Abu Ala,a, and
interim PA President Rawhi Fattuh--is scheduled December 6 to
meet with Syrian officials in Damascus followed by a visit to
Lebanon. The PA leadership will also meet with Khaled Mishal
of Hamas and other representatives of other Palestinian
factions based in Syria and Lebanon.

-- A senior Hamas official in Lebanon, Usama Hamdan, denied
statements made December 3 from a Hamas West Bank
representative that the organization would accept a long-term
truce with Israel. Hamdan stated December 4 that there had
been no change in Hamas,s policy. Hamas leader Mahmud
al-Zahar December 5 said that Hamas placed conditions on a
true with Israel and ruled out a unilateral cease-fire.

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