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Israel Weighs More Use of Ammunition When Palestinians Throw Stones Israel Considers Ammunition to Counter Palestinian Stone Throwers
(about 1 hour later)
JERUSALEM — The government of Israel said on Wednesday that it was considering sharper measures against Palestinians who throw stones and firebombs, including allowing more use of live ammunition and creating legislation that would impose minimum sentences on youths convicted of such actions. JERUSALEM — The government of Israel said on Wednesday that it was considering sharper measures against Palestinians who throw stones and firebombs, including allowing more use of live ammunition and creating legislation that would impose minimum sentences on youths convicted of such actions.
“The policy is zero tolerance for stone throwing and zero tolerance for terrorism,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office.“The policy is zero tolerance for stone throwing and zero tolerance for terrorism,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office.
Mr. Netanyahu had met with senior officials on Wednesday to discuss security in Jerusalem and along a major highway leading to the city that partially runs through the West Bank.Mr. Netanyahu had met with senior officials on Wednesday to discuss security in Jerusalem and along a major highway leading to the city that partially runs through the West Bank.
Though the Israeli military does not disclose details about its rules of engagement, citing security concerns, standing orders are said to limit the use of live ammunition by soldiers to situations that they deem to be life-threatening. It was not clear what changes to those rules might be under consideration. Mr. Netanyahu has asked the Justice Ministry to examine the current rules of engagement and the legal implications of any change, Israeli officials said.Though the Israeli military does not disclose details about its rules of engagement, citing security concerns, standing orders are said to limit the use of live ammunition by soldiers to situations that they deem to be life-threatening. It was not clear what changes to those rules might be under consideration. Mr. Netanyahu has asked the Justice Ministry to examine the current rules of engagement and the legal implications of any change, Israeli officials said.
The meeting included the ministers for defense, internal security, justice, and intelligence and transportation, as well as the director of the Shin Bet internal security agency and other officials. It came after a recent increase in violence in Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem and along the highway, known as Route 443.The meeting included the ministers for defense, internal security, justice, and intelligence and transportation, as well as the director of the Shin Bet internal security agency and other officials. It came after a recent increase in violence in Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem and along the highway, known as Route 443.
On Wednesday, Israeli firefighters and police and border officers rescued Palestinian residents trapped atop a burning apartment building in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Issawiya. As the firefighters and officers left the scene, they were attacked with stones, according to the police, and an Israeli woman was injured last month when a firebomb set alight a car in which she was traveling close to Route 443. Nine Palestinians from the neighborhood of Beit Hanina — four of them minors — were arrested and charged with hurling the fire bomb. On Wednesday, Israeli firefighters and police and border officers rescued Palestinian residents atop a burning building in Issawiya in East Jerusalem. As the firefighters and officers left the scene, they were attacked with stones, according to the police, and an Israeli woman was injured last month when a firebomb set alight a car in which she was traveling close to Route 443. Nine Palestinians from Beit Hanina — four of them minors — were charged in the firebombing.
Israeli security officials said that those suspected of throwing firebombs told their interrogators that they wanted to avenge the arson attack in July on a Palestinian home in the West Bank village of Duma that killed a toddler and his father. Jewish extremists are suspected of having carried out the arson attack.Israeli security officials said that those suspected of throwing firebombs told their interrogators that they wanted to avenge the arson attack in July on a Palestinian home in the West Bank village of Duma that killed a toddler and his father. Jewish extremists are suspected of having carried out the arson attack.
Mr. Netanyahu ordered the bolstering of forces in Jerusalem and along Route 443, and he said that intelligence and observation efforts would be increased.Mr. Netanyahu ordered the bolstering of forces in Jerusalem and along Route 443, and he said that intelligence and observation efforts would be increased.
“Since the legal system is finding it difficult to deal with stone throwing by minors,” the statement from his office said, “changing open-fire orders regarding the throwing of stones and firebombs will be examined, as will be the imposition — by law — of minimum sentences for those who throw stones and firebombs.” “Since the legal system is finding it difficult to deal with stone throwing by minors,” the statement from his office said, “changing open-fire orders regarding the throwing of stones and firebombs will be examined, as will be the imposition — by law — of minimum sentences for” stone throwers and firebombers.
The idea of loosening regulations on the use of live fire appeared at odds with current Israeli policy in the occupied West Bank, where the military has been trying to avoid fanning tensions after of the deadly arson attack in Duma. The idea of loosening regulations on the use of live fire appeared at odds with current Israeli policy in the occupied West Bank, where the military has tried to avoid fanning tensions after the arson attack in Duma.
Before the Duma attack, the military issued a periodic review of its standing orders for combat soldiers in order to clarify the guidelines, said Lt. Libby Weiss, a spokeswoman for the military.Before the Duma attack, the military issued a periodic review of its standing orders for combat soldiers in order to clarify the guidelines, said Lt. Libby Weiss, a spokeswoman for the military.
“These rules are specifically designed to allow soldiers to carry out their missions professionally within a complex operational environment,” Lieutenant Weiss said. “These rules are specifically designed to allow soldiers to carry out their missions professionally within a complex operational environment,” she said.
Palestinian officials and human rights groups denounce what they view as an already excessive use of live fire by Israeli forces. Al-Haq, a human rights organization based in the West Bank city of Ramallah, has said the killing of Palestinian civilians is the result of a “climate of impunity granted to Israeli soldiers, who are rarely held responsible for violations committed against the occupied Palestinian population.” Palestinian officials and human rights groups denounce what they view as an already excessive use of live fire by Israeli forces. Al-Haq, a human rights organization based in the West Bank city of Ramallah, has said the killing of Palestinian civilians is the result of a “climate of impunity granted to Israeli soldiers.”
An Israeli brigade commander came under scrutiny in July after he fatally shot a 17-year-old Palestinian who threw a rock at the windscreen of the commander’s jeep, smashing it. At first the military said that the commander had opened fire because his life was in danger. But video from a surveillance camera that was released later by Btselem, an Israeli human rights organization, appeared to show that the Palestinian youth had been shot as he ran away from the jeep. An Israeli brigade commander came under scrutiny in July after he fatally shot a Palestinian, 17, who threw a rock at the windscreen of the commander’s jeep, smashing it. At first the military said that the commander had opened fire because his life was in danger. But surveillance footage released later by Btselem, an Israeli human rights group, appeared to show the boy being shot as he ran from the jeep.
According to Btselem, 12 Palestinian minors were shot and killed by Israeli forces during protests and clashes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 2014. Several Israelis, including children, have been killed or injured as a result of rocks or firebombs thrown at cars on West Bank roads in recent years.According to Btselem, 12 Palestinian minors were shot and killed by Israeli forces during protests and clashes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 2014. Several Israelis, including children, have been killed or injured as a result of rocks or firebombs thrown at cars on West Bank roads in recent years.