Prime Minister Netanyahu asked Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein to allow Israel Police to deploy snipers firing small-caliber bullets against rock throwers, Haaretz reports.
The request was made during an emergency meeting with cabinet ministers yesterday evening, which was announced by Netanyahu after a wave of violent attacks washed over Jerusalem in the days leading to and during the Rosh Hashanah holiday.
According to Haaretz, during the meeting the ministers realized that there is a significant gap between the IDF’s rules of engagement and those of the police. The request to Weinstein aims to close this gap.
IDF snipers in the West Bank are allowed to fire small-caliber bullets at rioters who hurl Molotov cocktails or bigger rocks that commanders believe can be lethal. Firing is usually aimed at the legs and can injure but not kill. Police, currently, are not allowed to use any means beyond rubber bullets, water cannons or tear gas.
Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein at the Ministry of Justice in Jerusalem, May 17, 2015. (Dudi Vaknin/Pool)
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