VZCZCXYZ0014
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJM #3611 2271514
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 151514Z AUG 06
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4236
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 003611 
 
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 15 SITREP 
 
 
¶1.    (SBU) Summary.  Israeli aircraft overnight August 14-15 
fired rockets at a suspected Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) 
house in the Jabaliya refugee camp, injuring at least 10 
Palestinians.  The IDF continued operations in the vicinity 
of the Gaza airport, where clashes resulted in two 
Palestinian injuries.  Palestinian militants fired four 
Qassam rockets from northern Gaza toward Israel, but there 
were no reported injuries or property damage.  In the West 
Bank, IDF units entered the Askar refugee camp in Nablus and 
arrested six Fatah activists.  The Rafah crossing remains 
closed on August 15, but the Karni/al-Mintar and Nahal Oz 
crossings are open.  End summary. 
 
Military Developments 
--------------------- 
 
¶2.    (SBU) Israeli aircraft overnight August 14-15 fired 
rockets at a home in the Jabaliya refugee camp, destroying 
the house while damaging three neighboring structures.  At 
least 10 Palestinians were injured in the bombing.  The IDF 
claimed the house was used as a command center by the 
Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).  Israeli shelling in Beit 
Hanoun injured four Palestinians.  The IDF also continued 
operations near the Gaza airport, where Israeli units 
demolished six structures.  Ensuing clashes resulted in two 
Palestinian injuries.  The Hamas military wing claimed 
responsibility for detonating an explosive device that 
damaged an Israeli bulldozer near the airport. 
 
¶3.    (SBU) Palestinian militants have fired four Qassam 
rockets since the evening of August 14 from northern Gaza, 
resulting in no injuries or property damage.  Militants also 
fired an anti-tank missile at IDF units near the Erez 
crossing, resulting in no casualties.  ConGen contacts in the 
office of the PA president reported that the incident at Erez 
occurred approximately 10 minutes before President Abbas' 
convoy passed through the area. 
 
¶4.    (SBU) The PA Ministry of Health released a statement 
that, since the start of operation "Summer Rain" following 
the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit on June 25, over 190 
Palestinians have been killed and more than 790 injured in 
the course of IDF operations.  Among those killed were 58 
Palestinians under the age of 18 and 25 Palestinian women. 
 
¶5.    (SBU) In the West Bank, the IDF on August 15 initiated 
a raid into the Askar refugee camp in Nablus, arresting six 
Fatah activists.  During the operation, a 73-year-old 
Palestinian woman reportedly died from heart complications 
due to tear gas inhalation.  The IDF arrested at least two 
others, including a Palestinian carrying a knife at the 
entrance to the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs in 
Hebron.  Palestinian militants also opened fire on IDF units 
operating in the northern West Bank on August 14.  There were 
no reported injuries. 
 
Humanitarian Update 
------------------- 
 
¶6.    (SBU)  The Rafah crossing is closed August 15, 
according to USAID Gaza-based staff.  Rafah was last open 
August 11. 
 
¶7.    (SBU)  The Karni/al-Mintar and Nahal Oz crossings are 
open August 15, according to USAID Gaza-based staff.  USAID 
reported that between June 25 (the date of the abduction of 
Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit) and August 15, Karni/al-Mintar 
has been open 26 of 45 normal working days, or 58 percent of 
the time. 
 
¶8.    (SBU)  All ten electricity feeder lines from Israel 
into Gaza are operational on August 15, according to USAID 
Gaza-based staff. 
 
DUFFY