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Israel approves use of sniper fire against Palestinian rock-throwers in Jerusalem

Xinhua, September 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

Israel's Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein has approved the use of sniper fire by Israeli police against Palestinian rock-throwers in Jerusalem, Israeli media reported on Thursday.

Weinstein, who is the legal adviser to the Israeli government, accepted a request by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow police officers in Jerusalem to use live sniper fire to disperse riots in Jerusalem, the Channel 10 news reported.

Israeli police were only allowed to use rubber bullets to disperse riots in East Jerusalem, home to 300,000 Palestinians. Following Weinstein's recommendation, the police would change its opening fire procedure within the next few days.

Netanyahu announced in recent days deploying harsher measures against stone and firebomb throwers, specifically referring to Palestinians from East Jerusalem, after a week of unrest broke out, centering mostly at the flashpoint holy site of Temple Mount in East Jerusalem.

On Sunday evening, a 64-year-old Israeli died after losing control of his vehicle, after it was pelted by stones in east Jerusalem, near the Palestinian village of Zur Baher.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat declared "war" on Thursday against Palestinians who throw firebombs and rocks, saying that Israel is too "merciful" to Palestinian rioters and police should use more live ammunition, according to The Times of Israel.

Netanyahu is also seeking further measures to deter young Palestinians from rock throwing, like fixing minimum sentences, handing out longer sentences and fining the parents of the stone-hurling youth.

These other measures will require a new law, and the legislation process -- by the government and parliament -- could take up to several months. Weinstein has approved the legality of the measures, allowing Netanyahu and his cabinet to proceed with the legislation process.

With that, the Jerusalem District Court indicted a 19-year-old Palestinian from East Jerusalem and three other minors aged 13 to 15 for throwing stones at Israeli security forces on separate incidents in the past two months, the Ynet news website reported.

Also on Thursday, Israeli police announced it had detained eight Palestinians for their suspected involvement in the clashes that erupted around Temple Mount. Endit