DOS Memo re: Summary of News and Events January 17, 2002

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Afternoon BriefNo.3
Thursday. JaDuary 17.2002 ~30 EST
ISRAEU SECURIlY CABINET MEETS, FATAH ACTIVIST KILLED
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The Cabinet met early in the morning to discuss recent Israeli responses to the latest shooting attacks in the West Bank. report the media. The meeting was called to settle differences of opinion between Prime Minister Sharon and Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer, and local media report that Ben-Eliezer's position won out, confirms the Embassy. Ben-Eliezer had reservations concerning recent reactions and stressed that any Israeli action should be responsive to an actual threat, prevent terrorists from departing the area, and reduce anacks on arterial roads to the settlements. (Watch/Embassy Tel Aviv felcon, haaref=com)

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Israeli troops shot dead senior Fatah activist Khamis Ahmed Ali Abdullah. outside of his home in the Askar refugee camp near Nablus, confirms the Consulate General. Abdullah received one bullet to the chest. and Palestinians are characterizing the incident as an assassination. Abdullah was one of the prisoners released in a 1985 prisoner exchange and was repured to be a member of the al-Aqsa MW1yrs Brigades.

(Watch/Consulate General Jerusalem lelcon, Reuters)
COMMONWEALTH ALLIES DEBATE AL-QAIDA PRISONER POUCY
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Australia: The family of Australian al-Qaida prisoner David Hicks, presently held al Guantanamo, is demanding he be given access to a lawyer and Australian diplomats, report the media. The GOA has not provided Hicks consular access, saying the investigation into his activities was continuing. Despite little local support for Hicks, a debate has surfaced concerning where he would be tried and whether ht. would be subject to the death penalty if tried in the U.S., comments the Embassy. (Watch/Embassy Canberra te/con, Reuters)

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United Kingdom: Broad-based media pressW'e on HMG to gain access to British al-Qaida suspects is growing, comments the Embassy. HMG will first work to establish the identity and condition of any British prisoners before addressing other issues, including the death penalty.

(Walch/Embassy London te/con. fi.com)
SADDAM SAYS IRAQ WILL REPULSE ANY U.S. ATTACK
In a televised speech on the 11 \II anniversary ofthe Gulf War, Hussein said Iraq had gained experience that would enable it to foil any U.S. military campaign. (Reuters)
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Overnight BriefNo.2
Tbursday, January 17,2002 1900 EST
SUICIDE ATTACK KIllS 4 ISRAELIS; IDF BLOCKADES FOUR TOWNS
• (U) A terrorist killed at least four in an attack on a banquet hall in the nonhem Israeli city of Hadera, repon the media. The attacker fired shots and threw grenades into the crowd, but was unable to detonate his explosive belt before being killed. The AI-Aqsa Manyrs' Brigade claimed responsibility for the attack; the GOI held the PA responsible and vowed to respond. The attack may be in retaliation for Israel's apparent targeted killing of two Al-Aqsa members since January 14, comments the desk. (Watch/Israel desk lelcon, AP)
• (U) Prior to. the Hadera attack. IDF forces reimposed their blockade of the West Bank towns of Qalqilya. Jenin, Tulkarm and Nablus in response to recent killings of Israeli citizens. (Reuters)
VOLCANOES ERUPT IN EASTERN ORC; REBELS ABANDON GOMA
• (SBU) Lava reached the town of Goma in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, causing fires in town and along escape routes, reports the desk. As many as 300,000 refugees are believed to be in flight, with many heading toward Rwanda, repons Embassy Kigali. Five American humanitarian workers are trapped between lava flows but not in immediate danger, adds Embassy Kinshasa. (Kigali J08, WarchIRwanda desk teteon. WatcirlEmbassy Kinshasa telcon. Reuters)
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(C) The RCD-G rebels occupying Goma have reponedly abandoned the city, leaving it without an administration or police force. (Kigali J08)

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(C) Rwandan authorities fear that ORC-based Hutu rebels may take advantage of the chaos to infiltrate Rwanda. (Kigali JOB)

JCRC ARRIVES IN GUANTANAMO TO INSPECT PRISONER FACllmES
(U) A foor-member International Red Cross team arrived at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base to begin an inspection of the compound holding al-Qaida members, repon the media. The tearn is expected to interview prisoners privately. but within the view of guards, confinned the desk.
(Watch/Cuba desk telcon, AP)
AFGHAN GUNMEN HDACK UN FOOD SHIPMENT
(U) Two UN food trucks carrying 40 tons of wheat were seized by uniformed gunmen near Mazar-e Sharif in northern Afghanistan, repons the desk. The attackers reportedly gave half the food 10 local villagers and took the rest 10 a nearby military base. The incident was the first hijacking of a UN convoy since the collapse of the Taliban. (Watch/A!,hanistan desk Ie/con)
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UNITED STATES DEPARH1Ei'iT OF STATE
REVIEW ,HiTHORITY: FRANK E SCHMELZER
DATE/CASE ID: 24 SEP 2004 200303827

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Afternoon BriefNo.4
friday. January 18,2002
0445 EST
ISRAEUS RETAUATE WITH AIR STIKE ON WEST BANK POUCE HQ
(U) Israeli f -165 fired missiles into a PA security compound in TuLkarm, killing one policeman and injuring approximately 40 people, report the media. The attack reportedly destroyed the PA security compound entirely and also damaged neighboring PA buildings. adds the Embassy.
(Walch/Embassy Tel Aviv Ie/con. Reulers)
SFOR TAKES CUSTODY OF ALGERIAN TERROR SUSPECTS IN BOSNIA
(S) The six Algerian al.Qaida suspects were in SFOR custody at Camp Butmir near Sarajevo airport, awaiting helicopter transfer to Eagle Base in Tuzla for onward travel to Guantanamo. An estimated 700-800 protesters gathered to oppose the transfer. leading to a fracas in which several local police and possibly one of the detainees were injured. The BlH Human Righrs Chamber. a court created under Dayton. issued an injunction of questionable legitimacy against the detainees' removal from Bosnian jurisdiction. (Walch/Embassy Sarajevo Ie/con)
JAPAN ANNOUNCES HUMANITARIAN AID FOR AFGHANISTAN
(U) Most of the $48.84 million emergency aid package will go to UNDP, UNHCR, and UNICEF, with $830,OUO for the Afghanistan lllterim Administration, report the media. The cabinet also approved aid for neighboring coun·.nes: Pakistan ($37.75 million), Uzbekistan ($7.55 million), and Tajikistan ($7.55 million). This forward-leaning humanitarian aid package foreshadows the much larger reconstruction aid grant to be announced at the donors' conference, comments the Embassy. The parameters of the reconstruction package remain to be finalized.
(Walch/Embassy Tokyo Ie/con. Reuters)
ENDANGERED AMCITS NOW SAFE FROM VOLCANO IN EASTERN ORC
(U) The five Americans escaped across the border into the Rwanda town of Gisenyi. finding remporary lodging in a private home. (Embassy Kigali fe/con)
TOLEDO RESHUFFLES PERUVIAN CABINET (SBU) Peruvian President Toledo replaced his controversial ministers of defense, .health. and women's affairs, report the media. The newly-named ministers, all respected public figures. could boost Toledo's waning public support, comments the Embassy. (Walch/Embassy Lima lelcon. Reuters) Drafted SBBlIIlks Dis!: Stae (all b"rtlus). CIA. DOD. NSe. UStlN DERJVED FROM: WltchlEmbassy Sansjeo telco:, DECLASSIfY ON 06117/02 U'\ITED STATES DEPARHIE:\T OF STATE RE\'IEW Al'HIORITY: FRA:\I..: E SClnlELZER _DATE/CASE ID: ~O SE P 200-1 200~0~827 Approved: DJBom. SECRET UNCLASSIFIED

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