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 JERUSALEM 002250
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
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PBTS PHUM KWBG KPAL IS ASEC
SUBJECT: WB/G SITREP: JUNE 2, 2005 (1700 HOURS LOCAL) --
CLASHES BETWEEN ANTI-BARRIER ACTIVISTS AND IDF IN WEST
BANK; PALESTINIAN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS
DEMONSTRATING IN THE GAZA STRIP
This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable.
1. (SBU) Summary: Fourteen Palestinian and foreign peace
activists were injured from tear gas inhalation during
clashes with IDF troops over construction of the separation
barrier near the village of Beit Suriq, northwest of
Jerusalem, June 1. Israeli security forces arrested 21
Palestinians in various locations in the West Bank. Israeli
authorities arrested three Israeli border policemen and one
former border policeman on June 1 on suspicion that they sold
weapons to a Palestinian man from East Jerusalem. Settlers
in the Old City of Hebron threw stones at Palestinians and
painted slogans defaming Islam on some storefronts in the Old
City June 1. In the Gaza Strip, UNRWA reported June 2 that
dozens of PA military intelligence officials were
demonstrating outside the Palestinian Legislative Council
(PLC) building against what UNRWA characterized as the
splitting of PA Military Intelligence between two security
branches. End Summary.
---------
West Bank
---------
2. (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY:
-- Deaths: Nil.
-- Injuries: According to Palestinian media, 14 Palestinian
and foreign peace activists were injured from tear gas
inhalation during clashes with IDF troops over construction
of the separation barrier near the village of Beit Suriq,
northwest of Jerusalem on June 1.
-- Arrests: According to Palestinian sources, IDF troops
entered Balata refugee camp, near Nablus, and arrested five
Fatah activists June 1.
-- Arrests: According to Palestinian sources, IDF troops
apprehended five members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)
in Idna village, near Hebron, June 1. The IDF subsequently
released three of those detained, but two remain in custody.
-- Arrests: According to Palestinian media, the IDF arrested
one Fatah activist in Beit Ummar, southwest of Bethlehem,
June 1.
-- Arrests: Palestinian sources reported that, IDF troops
entered Attil village, near Tulkarm, and arrested two members
of PIJ and one Fatah member June 1.
-- Arrests: According to Israeli and Palestinian media
sources, the IDF arrested eight PIJ activists near Hebron
June 2.
-- According to Israeli media, Israeli authorities arrested
three Israeli border policemen and one former border
policeman June 1 on suspicion that they sold weapons to a
Palestinian man from East Jerusalem. Two of the suspects
were released to house arrest, and two were remanded by the
court.
-- Security Incidents: According to Palestinian sources,
settlers in the Old City of Hebron threw stones at
Palestinians and painted slogans defaming Islam on some of
the city's storefronts June 1. No injuries were reported,
but tensions remained high in Hebron.
-- Security Incidents: According to Palestinian media,
settlers set on fire 30-40 dunums (approximately 8-10 acres)
of Palestinian-owned farmland containing olive and almond
trees near the village of Hussan, not far from Bethlehem,
June 1.
3. (SBU) CLOSURES/CURFEWS
-- According to Palestinian sources, the IDF imposed a curfew
on the Balata refugee camp, near Nablus, after arresting five
Fatah activists (see Arrests) on June 1. The entrance to the
camp was blocked by dirt and concrete slabs.
----
Gaza
----
4. (SBU) ATTACKS:
-- Deaths: Nil.
-- Injuries: Nil.
-- Clashes: Nil.
-- Shooting: The IDF reported that Palestinians shot at an
IDF outpost east of Rafiah Yam Village June 1. No injuries
were reported.
-- Shooting: Palestinians shot at IDF troops approximately
one kilometer from an IDF outpost south of Rafah June 1,
according to the IDF. No injuries were reported.
-- Shooting: A shooting occurred near an IDF outpost
southeast of Netzarim June 1 in which Palestinians targeted
IDF troops without resulting injuries, according to the IDF.
-- Missile: An anti-tank missile was fired at an IDF
bulldozer in the vicinity of an IDF outpost north of Rafah
June 1, according to the IDF.
-- Mortar: The IDF reported a mortar shell fired at Israeli
civilians in the Netzarim Village early June 2. No injuries
resulted.
-- Explosions: Nil.
5. (SBU) ARRESTS: Nil.
6. (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: Nil.
7. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS/CHECKPOINTS:
-- Route Four (Salah Ed-Din Road), the main north-south
traffic artery, was open June 2, but closed at Netzarim
junction. The coastal road at Netzarim T-Junction was open.
-- The Erez Crossing was open to internationals, diplomats,
and Palestinian laborers June 1.
-- The Erez Industrial Zone was open June 1. According to
UNRWA, 600 Palestinian laborers entered the zone June 1.
-- Sufa Crossing was closed for laborers, but open for
aggregates used in construction June 1.
-- Karni Terminal was open for the import and export of
materials June 2.
-- Rafah Terminal was open without restrictions June 2.
-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed, and Toufa checkpoint
was open with restrictions on males age 16-30, June 2.
8. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:
-- UNRWA reported that dozens of PA military intelligence
officials were demonstrating outside the Palestinian
Legislative Council (PLC) building against what UNRWA
characterized as the splitting of PA Military Intelligence
between two security branches. The protesters blocked
several streets in the city while firing heavily into the air
during the march. Demonstrations also took place in Rafah.
UNRWA reported at about 1230 June 2 that the demonstration
had broken up.
Connelly