VZCZCXYZ0002
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJM #3625 2281454
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 161454Z AUG 06
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4254
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 003625 
 
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 16 SITREP 
 
REF: JERUSALEM 03616 
 
¶1.    (SBU) Summary.  Israeli aircraft overnight August 15-16 
fired rockets into the home of a suspected al-Aqsa Martyrs' 
Brigades member in Khan Younis, killing two Palestinians and 
injuring at least three others.  A Palestinian Islamic Jihad 
(PIJ) member was killed during clashes between PIJ gunmen and 
the IDF in Abassan, east of Khan Younis.  IDF tanks and 
bulldozers conducted clearing operations in northern Gaza. 
Palestinian militants fired at least two rockets from 
northern Gaza toward Sderot, but there were no reported 
injuries or property damage.  In the West Bank, IDF units 
overnight arrested eight Palestinians.  The Rafah and 
Karni/al-Mintar crossings are closed on August 15, but the 
Nahal Oz crossing is open.  End summary. 
 
Military Developments 
--------------------- 
 
¶2.    (SBU) Israeli aircraft overnight August 15-16 fired 
rockets at the home of a suspected al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades 
member in Khan Younis, killing two Palestinians and injuring 
at least three others.  The IDF claimed the house was used by 
al-Aqsa to store weapons.  In Abassan, east of Khan Younis, 
IDF units clashed with PIJ gunmen, killing one and arresting 
one other.  In northern Gaza, Israeli tanks and bulldozers 
conducted land clearing operations, but no injuries were 
reported.  Palestinian militants fired two rockets from 
northern Gaza toward Sderot, resulting in no injuries or 
property damage.  Both al-Aqsa and the DFLP claimed 
responsibility for the rocket fire. 
 
¶3.    (SBU) In the West Bank, Palestinians conducted attacks 
in the northern West Bank, throwing stones at Israeli 
vehicles and a firebomb at an Israeli bus traveling near 
Nablus.  Palestinians also threw explosive charges at Israeli 
soldiers attempting to conduct arrests in Qabatiyah village 
near Jenin.  There were no reported injuries.  The IDF 
arrested at least eight Palestinians in overnight arrest 
operations in the Ramallah and Bethlehem areas.  An 
additional two Palestinians were arrested on August 16 in the 
northern West Bank as they attempted to plant an explosive 
device near the separation barrier. 
 
Humanitarian Update 
------------------- 
 
¶4.    (SBU)  The Rafah crossing is closed August 16, 
according to USAID Gaza-based staff.  Rafah was last open 
August 11. 
 
¶5.    (SBU)  The Karni/al-Mintar crossing is closed August 16 
for essential maintenance and electrical installation work on 
the Israeli side, according to USAID Gaza-based staff.  The 
Nahal Oz fuel transfer crossing is open August 16. 
 
¶6.    (SBU)  All ten electricity feeder lines from Israel 
into Gaza are operational August 16, according to USAID 
Gaza-based staff. 
 
¶7.    (SBU) Reftel is a separate sitrep covering the 
kidnapping of the two Fox journalists. 
 
DUFFY