Cablegate: Wb/G Sitrep: At Least Six Palestinians Wounded In

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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001585

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

NEA FOR BURNS/SATTERFIELD/DIBBLE;
NEA/SA/EX FOR RICHIE; DEPT FOR DS/IP/ITA; DEPT FOR
DS/IP/NEA;
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DANIN; USAID FOR DCHA, DCHA/FPP, PRM FOR
DEWEY/GREENE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWBG PHUM PREL PTER ASEC CASC GZ IS
SUBJECT: WB/G SITREP: AT LEAST SIX PALESTINIANS WOUNDED IN
SEPARATION BARRIER PROTEST -- MARCH 17, 2005 (1200 HOURS
LOCAL)

This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable.

1. (SBU) Summary: Two Palestinian youths were wounded by IDF
gunfire in Tulkarm after they threw a firebomb at an IDF jeep
on March 16, and at least six Palestinians were wounded by
rubber-coated bullets and tear gas during a protest against
the construction of the separation barrier in Safa and
Bil,in villages, west of Ramallah, the same day. In Gaza,
Palestinian militants fired one mortar shell at Neve Dekalim
and launched one shooting attack at an IDF outpost north of
Rafah the evening of March 16. End Summary.

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West Bank
---------

2. (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY:

-- Deaths: Nil.

-- Injuries: According to Palestinian and Israeli media, two
Palestinian youths were wounded by IDF gunfire in Tulkarm
after they threw a firebomb at an IDF jeep on March 16. The
IDF arrested one of two youths, while the second was
hospitalized.

-- Injuries: According to Palestinian sources, at least six
Palestinians were wounded by rubber-coated bullets and tear
gas during a protest against the construction of the
separation barrier in Safa and Bil,in villages, west of
Ramallah, on March 16.

-- Arrests: According to Palestinian sources, Azam Jubara,
the Palestinian security officer in charge of criminal
investigations in Jenin, was arrested by the IDF at a
roadblock near Jenin on March 16.

-- Arrests: According to Palestinian sources, IDF troops
arrested a member of Hamas in Tulkarm on March 16.

-- Arrests: According to Palestinian media, the IDF went into
the village of Mughir, northeast of Ramallah, on March 16 and
arrested three Palestinian men, including two brothers.

-- Security Incidents: According to Palestinian sources, IDF
soldiers fired tear gas towards a funeral procession in
Budrus village, west of Ramallah, on March 16, thinking it
was a protest against the separation barrier. Several
mourners suffered from tear gas inhalation.

3. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

-- According to Palestinian sources, General Nasser Yusif,
the Palestinian Authority (PA) Minister of Interior and
Commander of the National Security Forces, met with a Chinese
government official in Ramallah on March 16. The Chinese
reportedly promised to deliver a package of assistance to the
PA security forces. In addition, General Yusif met with a
Dutch official delegation March 16 possible Dutch support to
build a Security Training Academy in Jericho.

-- According to Palestinian media, a group of gunmen broke
into the PA Ministry of Transport in Ramallah on March 16.
Sources reported that the gunmen burst into the ministry and
aimed their guns at its director-general, Ramadan Al-Keilani.
The gunmen, apparently members of the Fatah-affiliated
Al-Aqsa Martyrs, Brigades, wanted the ministry to license
illegal on-call taxicabs to work in Ramallah and El-Bireh.

----
Gaza
----

4. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Deaths: Nil.

-- Injuries: Nil.

-- Mortars/Rockets: Palestinian militants fired one mortar
shell at Neve Dekalim the evening of March 16, according to
the IDF.

-- Shootings: The IDF reported that Palestinian militants
launched one shooting attack March 14, targeting an IDF
outpost north of Rafah.
5. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS:

-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic
artery, was open March 17, with a major detour at Netzarim
Junction. As of March 13, private vehicles are allowed to
transit Abu Khouli checkpoint.

-- Erez Crossing was open for internationals and for a
limited number of Palestinians March 16, and 1,045 laborers
and 174 merchants crossed into Israel.

-- The Erez Industrial Zone was open March 16, and 590
laborers entered.

-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers March
17, but was open for the import of aggregates used in
construction.

-- Karni Terminal was open March 17.

-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures March
17.

-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint remained closed march 17. Toufah
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi.

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