VZCZCXRO0358
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #1390 2131449
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 311449Z JUL 08
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2345
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
UNCLAS JERUSALEM 001390
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PHUM IS
SUBJECT: PM FAYYAD COMPLAINS AFTER TWO UNARMED YOUTHS SHOT
AND KILLED NEAR NIL'IN BY IDF
PM: Boys Were Unarmed,
Posed No Threat to Soldiers
---------------------------
1. (SBU) Palestinian Authority (PA) PM Salam Fayyad told the
Consul General July 30 that shootings that killed two
Palestinian youths near Ni'lin July 29-30 raised questions
about IDF rules of engagement (ROEs) in the West Bank. He
said information available to the PA suggests that lethal
force was used against unarmed Palestinians who posed no
threat to IDF soldiers. He said 11-year-old Palestinian
Ahmad Husam Musa was killed by a live round to the head. He
added that Musa was shot far from protesters as he and other
young boys neared a fenced area. Fayyad said he feared the
shootings of unarmed demonstrators could ignite protests and
asked the USG to raise the issue with the GOI and seek an
explanation.
2. (SBU) PA police contacts report that the IDF also shot
17-year-old Yusif Ahmad Amira in the head twice with
rubber-coated bullets during July 30 protests in Ni'lin.
Police told local press that Amira suffered severe head
trauma and is clinically dead. Police report that the IDF
and border police shot and injured six other Palestinians
with rubber-coated bullets during the protests.
3. (SBU) According to press, PA Presidency Chief of Staff
Rafiq Hussayni toured Ni'lin July 30 and urged residents to
continue protests against Israeli land confiscation and
barrier construction. He called Ahmad Musa's killing a
"terrible crime" and told media that "Israel is attacking
Palestinian land to hinder the chances of peace."
WALLES