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The Strategic Division/Military-Strategic Information Section

May 1st – May 15th

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“Nakba Day” Events

“Nakba Day” (the “catastrophe” in Arabic) commemorates the outcome of the 1948 War, initiated by the Arabs of Mandate Palestine and six neighboring Arab states following their rejection of UN Resolution 181. “Nakba Day” is widely used to protest the establishment of the State of Israel. This year’s “Nakba Day” was more widespread and violent than in years past, primarily as a result of regional and local influences’ and reflects broader attempts to gain international support for Palestinian efforts to withdraw from the negotiation process and unilaterally declare statehood.

On the Syrian border, hundreds of Syrians rioted and threw stones at the technical fence and IDF forces in the vicinity of the village of Majdal Shams. Dozens of Syrians stormed the fence and breached the border, infiltrating into the village. The IDF forces fired into the air and at the lower body mass of the lead rioters in order to deter them and repel the crowd. Four Syrians were killed and dozens were injured. Seventeen IDF soldiers were injured.

On the Lebanese border, tens of thousands of Lebanese protestors demonstrated in the village of Maron A-Ras. Dozens threw stones at IDF forces and attempted to break through the technical fence in the vicinity of the town of Avivim. IDF fired shots into the air and at the lower body mass of the lead rioters in order to prevent them from infiltrating into Israel. In addition, LAF also opened fire at the rioters. Ten Lebanese residents were killed and dozens injured. One IDF soldier was injured.

Defining Trends

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“Nakba Day” Events cont’d

In Gaza, dozens of protestors demonstrated at several sites and hundreds of Palestinians rioted and threw rocks at IDF forces. At Erez crossing, dozens of protestors rushed the crossing and vandalized the security infrastructure while attempting to infiltrate into Israel. IDF forces fired smoke grenades and directed light arms fire at the lead rioters in order to prevent them from penetrating into the Israeli territory. One Palestinian was killed and eleven wounded.

In addition, riots broke out in several locations throughout the West Bank. These riots included rock-throwing and Molotov Cocktails thrown at IDF, Israel Police and BGP forces and civilians, as well as the placement of burning tires. IDF, BGP and Israeli police forces dispersed the riots.

The events in Syria and Lebanon posed a real threat to the sovereignty and security of Israel; IDF forces, mandated to defend Israel’s borders, acted in order to resolve this threat in a lawful and reasonable manner.

Defining Trends

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Defining Trends

The West Bank

Palestinian riots, most of which were violent, continued during the time of this report on a daily basis; over 33 major cases were noted and on 2 occasions Molotov Cocktails were thrown.

Arms were confiscated by IDF forces or handed over by PA forces on at least three occasions: a ‘Carabin” rifle, improvised bullets and binoculars; an approximately 105 mm artillery shell; and a homemade rifle.

Terrorist attacks continue in the West Bank. During the period 1 May – 15 May, there were at least five attempted attacks: three armed suspects were caught attempting to infiltrate into a Jewish community, an IED was detected, two Palestinians assaulted a BGP officer at an IDF checkpoint and Palestinian rioters threw stones at an ambulance. In addition, there were a number of instances in which Palestinians were discovered cutting Jewish communities’ peripheral fences, and one in which a number of Palestinians attempted to illegally cross the security fence into Israel.

Palestinian Security Force operations in the West Bank continue but their scope and quality must be increased. When necessary, the IDF takes actions to prevent terrorist attacks from being carried out.

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The Gaza Strip

Defining Trends

Hamas continues to act aggressively against Israel. In addition to Hamas’ own terrorist activities, the organization allows various terrorist groups to use the territory under its control to plan and carry out attacks and rocket launches.

In the period of this report, a sense of calm has returned to the Gaza region after intensive rocket and mortar fire in the first half of April. Nonetheless, fire against Israel’s civilian population continues and on 5 May a rocket was launched towards Israel. In addition, from 1 – 15 May there were two separate incidents in which terrorist fired at IDF forces.

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Humanitarian Support – Gaza Strip

May 1 – May 15, 2011

Please find details regarding

the transfer of goods to the

Gaza Strip in the month of May

in the upcoming Bi-Weekly report

(May 16- May 31).

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Rockets and Mortars from the Gaza Strip – Monthly

May 1st – May 15th, 2011 : 1 Rocket

1/5 2/5 3/5 4/5 5/5 6/5 7/5 8/5 9/5 10/5 11/5 12/5 13/5 14/5 15/50

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

RocketMortarGrad

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Annual Rockets and Mortars from the Gaza Strip

January 2010 – 15 May 2011: 274 Rockets, 299 Mortars, 29 Grads

Februa

ryMarc

hApri

lMay Jun

eJul

y

August

Septem

ber

Octobe

r

Novem

ber

Decem

ber

Janua

ry (20

11)

Februa

ry

March

April

1-15 M

ay0

102030405060708090

6

24

411 15

8 1117

5 415 15

5

37

83

10 5 7 3 17 12

24

7

3523 22

10

79

53

Rockets Mortars Grad

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May 1st- Five Palestinians were apprehended while attempting to cut the technical fence in the vicinity of the Eshkolot community. One Palestinian was lightly injured.

Approximately 25 Palestinians and political activists demonstrated north of the Ma'ale Shomron community. Later, approximately 100 Palestinian demonstrated in the vicinity of the city of Qalqilya. IDF forces dispersed the demonstrations. One political activist was lightly injured.

May 4th- A BGP mobilized patrol discovered a cave used by an Israeli settler to store IDF equipment including uniforms, ranks and binoculars in the vicinity of the Eli community .

Approximately 50 Palestinians gathered in the vicinity of the Halamish community. IDF forces dispersed the crowd.

A Palestinians suspect in possession of a ‘Carabin’ rifle, improvised bullets and binoculars was arrested during an IDF initiated activity in the vicinity of the Beit Hadagan community.

May 5th- An IDF force demolished six illegal structures built by Palestinians, nine illegal tents and uprooted 900 illegally planted olive trees in the vicinity of the city of Hebron.

Major Events – West Bank

May 1st – May 5th

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May 5th cont’d- A number of Palestinians rioted and threw stones south of the Bracha community. BGP forces dispersed the riot. One BGP soldier was lightly injured and one Palestinian was moderately injured.

A number of Palestinians rioted and threw stones northwest of the Telem community. IDF forces dispersed the riot.

May 6th- A number of Palestinians rioted and threw stones at an IDF force in the vicinity of the city of Jenin. The force dispersed the riot.

During an arrest in the vicinity of the city of Jenin, a number of Palestinians rioted and threw stones at an IDF force.

A number of Palestinians rioted and threw stones at an IDF force during an initiated activity northwest of the Beit Hefer community. IDF forces dispersed the riot.

During a mobilized patrol in the vicinity of the Sha'aeri Tikva community, three Palestinians were identified cutting the community’s fence and stealing metal poles. The force initiated the suspect engagement procedure and arrested the Palestinians. The Palestinians were sent to investigation.

Major Events – West Bank

May 5th – May 6th

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May 6th cont’d- A number of Palestinian rioted and threw stones at an IDF force during an initiated activity in the vicinity of the Susya community. IDF forces dispersed the riot. One Bedouin was lightly injured.

During demonstrations in the villages of Nabi Salah, Bi'lin and Na'lin a number of Palestinians rioted and threw stones at IDF and BGP forces. IDF and BGP forces dispersed the riots. One Palestinian was arrested.

Approximately 20 Palestinians and political activists rioted and threw stones northeast of the Migdal Oz community. IDF forces arrested two political activists and one Palestinian.

IDF forces demolished a number of illegal structures built by Israelis in the vicinity of the Susya community.

May 7th- A number of Palestinians assembled east of the Kedumim community. IDF forces dispersed the crowd.

A number of Palestinians rioted and threw stones in the vicinity of the Bracha community. IDF and BGP forces dispersed the riot.

Major Events – West Bank

May 6th – May 7th

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May 7th cont’d- A number of Palestinians rioted and threw stones at a BGP force north of the Ma'ale Hahamisha community. BGP forces dispersed the riot. One Israeli soldier was lightly injured.

May 8th- A number of Palestinian rioted and threw stones at a BGP force northeast of the Sde Bar community. The force dispersed the riot.

A number of Palestinians rioted and threw stones at an IDF force south of the Beit Hagay community. IDF forces dispersed the riot.

Approximately 30 Palestinians and Israeli settlers rioted and threw stones in an altercation west of the Ofra community. IDF forces dispersed the riot.

A number of Palestinians rioted and threw Molotov Cocktails at the technical fence northwest of the Hermesh community. IDF forces dispersed the riot.

A number of Palestinians threw stones at an Israeli civilian vehicle in the vicinity of the city of Hebron. IDF forces apprehended the Palestinians.

Major Events – West Bank

May 7th – May 8th

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May 9th- A number of Palestinians rioted and cut the Eshkolot community’s peripheral fence. IDF forces arrested four Palestinians and sent them to investigation.

An approximately 105 mm artillery shell was identified by a Palestinian southeast of the Beit Horon community. The explosive was detonated by IDF sappers.

Approximately 7 Palestinians and 40 Israeli settlers assembled northwest of the Ofra community. The settlers rioted and threw stones at the Palestinians. An IDF force dispersed the riot.

May 11th- A number of Palestinians rioted and threw stones at an IDF force northwest of the Harmesh community. IDF forces dispersed the riot.

Approximately 50 Palestinians rioted and threw stones at Israeli civilian vehicles south of the Migdal Oz community. An IDF force dispersed the riot.

A number of Israeli settlers and Palestinians threw stones in a violent altercation in the vicinity of the city of Nablus. One Israeli settler was lightly injured and one Palestinian suspect was sent to investigation.

Major Events – West Bank

May 9th – May 11th

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May 11th cont’d- A number of Palestinians rioted and threw stones at an IDF force during an initiated activity south of the Migdal Oz community. The force dispersed the riot. One Palestinian was sent to investigation.

A BGP force initiated the suspect engagement procedure in order to deter a Palestinian suspect in the vicinity of an IDF outpost in the city of Bethlehem.

A number of Israeli settlers rioted and set fire to trees in Palestinian fields north of the city of Jerusalem. Following the incident, approximately 50 Palestinian rioted at the location.

May 12th- A homemade rifle was discovered by an IDF force inside a Palestinian vehicle in the vicinity of the Otniel junction. The weapon was confiscated by the IDF force.

A number of Palestinians rioted and threw stones at an Israeli civilian vehicle and at an ambulance south of the Halamish community. IDF forces dispersed the riot.

A number of Palestinians rioted and threw stones at an IDF mobilized patrol in the vicinity of the city of Hebron. IDF forces dispersed the riot.

Major Events – West Bank

May 11th – May 12th

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May 13th- During a BGP mobilized patrol an IED was detected west of the Har Shemuel community. The IED was dismantled by IDF sappers.

A number of Palestinians rioted and threw stones at Israeli civilians and a BGP force in the city of Jerusalem. The force dispersed the riot. One Palestinian was killed.

During Palestinian protests in the villages of Bi'lin, Na'lin and Nabi Salah, approximately 200 Palestinians rioted and threw stones at IDF and BGP forces; the forces dispersed the riot. In addition, two Palestinians assaulted a BGP officer at an IDF checkpoint in the vicinity of the Kalandia R.C. Two BGP soldiers, one IDF soldier, and one foreign political activist were lightly injured. The Israel Police arrested two Palestinians.

A number of Palestinians rioted and attempted to cross the security fence into Israeli territory in the vicinity of the Eshkolot community. A BGP force dispersed the riot.

A number of Palestinians rioted and threw stones at Israeli settlers who were plowing their fields in the vicinity of the Nahniel community. In response, the settlers fired light arms into the air.

Major Events – West Bank

May 13th

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May 13th cont’d- A young Israeli citizen reported identifying three armed suspects dressed in black leaping from bushes near the fence in the vicinity of the Kfar Oranim community. One suspect was sent to investigation.

Approximately 20 Palestinians rioted and threw stones north of the Sdei Bar community. IDF and BGP forces dispersed the riot.

May 14th- A number of Palestinians rioted and threw stones and Molotov cocktails at Israeli civilian vehicles west of the Adam community.

Approximately 140 Palestinians rioted and threw stones in the vicinity of the city of Ramallah. IDF and BGP forces dispersed the riot.

A number of Palestinians rioted and threw stones at an IDF mobilized patrol in the city of Hebron. IDF forces dispersed the riot.

May 15th- See slides 2 and 3 for “Nakba Day” events.

Major Events – West Bank

May 13th – May 14th

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May 4th- One Palestinian was identified crossing the technical fence into Israeli territory northeast of Kissufim Crossing. The suspect was sent to investigation.

A truck transporting dual-purpose materials that could potentially be used as improvised explosives was discovered in the Palestinian terminal of Kerem Shalom Crossing. The truck was returned to Israel and the driver was sent to investigation.

A suspicious Palestinian boat was identified crossing into Israeli territorial waters in the vicinity of the town of Beit Lahia. An Israeli navy patrol vessel initiated the suspect engagement procedure for suspicious vessels and the boat returned to the Gaza strip.

May 5th- Shots were fired at an IDF force during a mobilized patrol in the vicinity of the Karni Crossing. Two suspects were identified west of the patrol.

May 9th- One Palestinian suspect was identified crossing the technical fence northwest of Erez crossing. An IDF force initiated the suspect engagement procedure and the Palestinian was arrested and sent to investigation. He was later released back into the Gaza Strip.

May 11th- IDF forces identified light arms fire during an initiated activity northeast of Karni crossing.

Major Events – Gaza Strip

May 4th – May 11th

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May 15th: See slides 2 and 3 for “Nakba Day” events.

A suspicious Palestinian was identified placing an explosive device along the security fence in the northern Gaza Strip. IDF forces directed light arms fire at the suspect, who was killed.

Major Events – Gaza Strip

May 15th