VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHJM #3839 2371538
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 251538Z AUG 06
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4535
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
UNCLAS JERUSALEM 003839
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS, USAID
FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ASEC CASC KPAL KWBG PHUM
SUBJECT: MGGZ01 - JERUSALEM AUGUST 25 SITREP
1. (SBU) Summary. The Rafah crossing opened August 25
allowing thousands of Palestinians to transit from the Egypt
and Gaza sides of the crossing. Israeli aircraft conducted
air strikes in Gaza City and the Jabaliya overnight August
24-25, injuring eight Palestinians. The Palestinian Islamic
Jihad (PIJ) claimed responsibility for firing rockets the
evening of August 24 from northern Gaza toward the Western
Negev and Sderot, but there were no reported injuries or
property damage. In the West Bank, IDF units overnight
arrested six Palestinians. The IDF also arrested the Hamas
mayor of Beit Ummar near Hebron. The Karni/al-Mintar
crossing is closed on August 25, but the Nahal Oz fuel
transfer crossing is open. End summary.
Military Developments
---------------------
2. (SBU) According to ConGen sources in the Presidential
Guards and the PA Crossing Authority, the Rafah crossing
opened the morning of August 25 to allow passage for more
than 6,000 Palestinians awaiting transit on the Egypt and
Gaza sides of the crossing. As of 1600L, at least 34 buses
transporting 3,170 passengers had crossed from Gaza into
Egypt, while 22 buses transporting 1,750 passengers had
crossed from Egypt into Gaza. Also as of 1600L,
approximately 1,200 people on the Gaza side are still
attempting to cross into Egypt, with approximately 400
seeking passage into Gaza from Egypt. Discussions are
ongoing to extend the operating hours to enable the remaining
people to cross.
3. (SBU) Israeli aircraft overnight August 24-25 struck
houses in Gaza City and Jabaliya reportedly used to store
weapons, injuring at least eight Palestinians. PIJ claimed
responsibility for firing two rockets from northern Gaza
towards the Western Negev and Sderot. There were no reported
injuries or property damage.
4. (SBU) In the West Bank, IDF units exchanged gunfire
with Palestinian gunmen in Jenin on the evening of August 24.
There were no reported injuries. The IDF overnight August
24-25 arrested six Palestinians, including five PIJ members
in Ramallah and Jenin and a PFLP member in Nablus. The IDF
arrested the Hamas mayor of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron.
Humanitarian Update
-------------------
5. (SBU) The Karni/al-Mintar commercial crossing is closed
August 25, according to USAID Gaza-based staff. The crossing
was last open on August 15. The Sufa crossing is open on
August 25, for the third day for commodity imports, according
to USAID Gaza-based staff. On the first day it was open,
August 23, 60 truckloads of food products were imported
through Sufa over a nine-hour period. The Erez crossing is
open on August 25 for commodity imports for the second day in
a row, according to USAID Gaza-based staff. The Nahal Oz
fuel transfer crossing is open August 25, according to USAID
Gaza-based staff, as it was August 24.
6. (SBU) All ten electricity feeder lines from Israel into
Gaza are operational August 25, according to USAID Gaza-based
staff.
WALLES