VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJM #3800 2351452
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 231452Z AUG 06
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4479
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 003800 
 
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 23 SITREP 
 
 
¶1.    (SBU) Summary.  IDF shelling August 22 targeted 
Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) members, killing three near 
Khan Younis while injuring another seven Palestinians.  One 
IDF soldier sustained injuries from an anti-tank rocket in 
the northern Gaza Strip.  An Israeli operation into the 
Shijayah neighborhood of Gaza City overnight August 22-23 
resulted in the arrest of five Hamas members and the 
confiscation of a weapons cache.  Three Palestinians and one 
IDF soldier were injured during the exchange of gunfire. 
Palestinian militants overnight fired one rocket from 
northern Gaza toward the Western Negev, but there were no 
reported injuries or property damage.  In the West Bank, IDF 
units overnight arrested 11 Palestinians.  Israeli security 
forces went into high alert August 23 amid reports of a 
suicide bomber seeking to enter Jerusalem.  The Rafah and 
Karni/al-Mintar crossings are closed on August 23, but the 
Nahal Oz fuel transfer crossing is open.  End summary. 
 
Military Developments 
--------------------- 
 
¶2.    (SBU) IDF shelling in the vicinity of Khan Younis on 
August 22 killed three PIJ members, while injuring another 
seven Palestinians.  One IDF soldier sustained light wounds 
in northern Gaza when an anti-tank rocket struck an IDF 
outpost.  The PFLP and the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed 
responsibility for the attack.  An Israeli operation into the 
Shijayah neighborhood in Gaza City overnight August 22-23 
resulted in the arrest of five Hamas members and the 
confiscation of ammunition, pistols, machine guns, and hand 
grenades.  One IDF soldier and three Palestinian gunmen were 
injured in the exchange of gunfire.  Palestinian militants 
overnight fired one Qassam rocket from northern Gaza toward 
the Western Negev, resulting in no injuries or property 
damage.  The IDF August 22-23 arrested 11 Palestinians in 
several localities in the West Bank. 
 
¶3.    (SBU) Israeli security forces issued a high alert 
August 23 for a possible suicide bomb attack in Jerusalem. 
The IDF and Israeli police set up flying checkpoints on main 
roads and arteries heading into Jerusalem, snarling traffic 
for the morning rush hours.  Yesha Council spokeswoman Emily 
Amrusi told ConGen Poloff that the IDF had instructed 
settlers located in settlements between Ramallah and 
Jerusalem to remain off the roads past 0800L to allow the IDF 
to check Palestinian vehicles.  The security forces canceled 
the alert during the hours of 0930-1200L, but resumed the 
alert at 1230-1400L.  There are still some flying checkpoints 
in the West Bank searching vehicles as of 1630L. 
 
Humanitarian Update 
------------------- 
 
¶4.    (SBU) The Rafah crossing is closed August 23, according 
to USAID Gaza-based staff.  Rafah was last open August 19. 
 
¶5.    (SBU) The Karni/al-Mintar commercial crossing is closed 
August 23, according to USAID Gaza-based staff.  The crossing 
was last open August 15. 
 
¶6.    (SBU) The Nahal Oz fuel transfer crossing is open 
August 23, as it was during the afternoon of August 22, 
according to USAID Gaza-based staff. 
 
¶7.    (SBU) All ten electricity feeder lines from Israel into 
Gaza are operational August 23, according to USAID Gaza-based 
staff. 
 
WALLES