Cablegate: Wb/G Sitrep: Two Wb Bank Teens Arrested With

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 003172

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/SA/EX FOR RICHIE; DEPT FOR
DS/IP/ITA; DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DANIN; USAID
FOR DCHA, DCHA/FPP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWBG PHUM PREL PTER ASEC CASC GZ IS
SUBJECT: WB/G SITREP: TWO WB BANK TEENS ARRESTED WITH
BOMBS; FATAH MEMBERS DISRUPT HAMAS DEMO IN AL-BUREIJ -- MAY
25, 2005 (1300 HOURS LOCAL)

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

1. (SBU) Summary: The IDF on May 24 arrested a Palestinian
teenager carrying two pipe bombs in a bag as he attempted to
pass through the Huwwara checkpoint, south of Nablus.
Israeli sappers later blew up the bag containing the bombs.
This arrest follows a similar occurrence May 22, when a
Palestinian teenager was arrested at the Huwwara checkpoint
after the IDF discovered he was wearing an explosive belt.
In Gaza, a total of seven Palestinians were injured May 23 in
al-Bureij camp, when three Palestinians, reportedly Fatah
supporters, drove their vehicle through a large Hamas
demonstration then in progress, while at the same time firing
their weapons into the air. Five people were injured when
they were struck by the car, and two were injured by gunfire.
Hamas supporters reportedly stopped the vehicle and detained
the three occupants for several hours in a mosque nearby.
The three were later released after intervention by Fatah
leaders. On May 24, PA security forces, working in
cooperation with IDF soldiers, blocked a smuggling tunnel in
the Brazil quarter of the Rafah refugee camp. End Summary.

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

2. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Death: Nil.

-- Injury: Nil.

-- Shooting: Palestinian gunmen on May 24 fired shots at an
IDF position in the vicinity of Qaddim settlement, southeast
of Jenin. There were no injuries reported from this incident.

-- Shooting: Palestinian gunmen on May 24 fired shots at an
IDF vehicle traveling south of Hebron. There were no
injuries reported from this incident, but the IDF vehicle
sustained damage during the attack.

-- Firebombing: Palestinians on May 24 threw two firebombs at
Israeli vehicles traveling near Kokhav Hashahar settlement,
northeast of Ramallah. There were no injuries reported from
this incident.

3. (SBU) ARRESTS/SECURITY:

-- Arrest: The IDF on May 24 arrested a Palestinian teenager
carrying two pipe bombs in a bag as he attempted to pass
through the Huwwara checkpoint, south of Nablus. Israeli
sappers later blew up the bag containing the bombs.

-- Catch-up Item: Arrests: On May 22, a Palestinian teenager
was arrested at the Huwwara checkpoint after the IDF
discovered the teenager wearing an explosive belt.

-- Arrests: The IDF on May 24 arrested three Palestinians in
the Nablus and Qalqilya districts. Two of those arrested
were identified as Fatah activists, while the third was
reported to be a member of PIJ.

-- Arrest: The IDF on May 24 arrested a member of a
Palestinian human rights NGO at the Qalandia checkpoint,
south of Ramallah. Palestinians suspect that the arrest is
linked to his reported ties to the PFLP.

-- Settler violence: Israeli settlers on May 24 entered Marda
village, south of Nablus, and damaged a vehicle belonging to
a Palestinian resident of the village. In the village of
Kafr Qalil, southeast of Nablus, settlers stoned Palestinian
homes. There were no injuries reported from these two
incidents.

4. (SBU) DEMOLITIONS:

-- IDF bulldozers on May 24 destroyed a house under
construction and two shacks in Idhna village, west of Hebron.
The structures reportedly lacked the required building
permits.

5. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

-- According to Palestinian sources, jailed West Bank Fatah
leader Marwan Barghuthi is planning to establish a prisoners
coalition that would run in the upcoming Palestinian
Legislative Council (PLC) elections, currently scheduled for
July 17. Other Palestinians incarcerated by Israel,
including jailed PLC member Husam Khader, are reportedly
being considered to head the list.

----
Gaza
----

6. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Deaths: Nil.

-- Catch-up Item: Injuries: UNRWA and Palestinian sources
reported that a total of seven Palestinians were injured May
23 in al-Bureij camp, when three Palestinians, reportedly
Fatah supporters, drove their vehicle through a large Hamas
demonstration then in progress, while at the same time firing
their weapons into the air. Five people were injured when
they were struck by the car and two were injured by gunfire,
according to UNRWA. Hamas supporters reportedly stopped the
vehicle and detained the three occupants for several hours in
a mosque nearby. The three were later released after
intervention by Fatah leaders.

-- Mortars/Rockets: The IDF reported that Palestinian
militants fired an anti-tank missile in the vicinity of an
IDF outpost west of Rafah May 24.

-- Mortars/Rockets: UNRWA reported that an IDF coastal vessel
pursued a Palestinian fishing boat off al-Soudania beach in
northern Gaza May 24. The IDF vessel fired at the
Palestinian boat, which was not hit and managed to escape IDF
pursuit, according to UNRWA.

-- Shootings: The IDF reported an exchange of fire northeast
of Sufa Crossing May 24

7. (SBU) TUNNELS:

-- UNRWA reported that PA security forces, working in
cooperation with IDF soldiers, blocked a smuggling tunnel in
the Brazil quarter of the Rafah refugee camp May 24.

8. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS:

-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic
artery, was open May 25, with a major detour at Netzarim
Junction.

-- Erez Crossing was open May 24, and 3,983 laborers and 287
merchants entered Israel.

-- The Erez Industrial Zone was open May 24, and 630 laborers
entered.

-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers May 25,
but was open for the import of aggregates used in
construction.

-- Karni Terminal was open May 25.

-- Rafah Terminal was open May 25 for arrivals and
departures.

-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed May 25. Toufah
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi, except males
aged 16-30.

9. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

-- Members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades demonstrated and
burned tires in Khan Yunis the evening of May 24, blocking
passage of PA vehicles through the area for several hours.
The men reportedly demanded jobs, according to UNRWA.

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