A limit on the use of live fire by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank will remain in place, despite requests by settlers and politicians to ease the restrictions, Israel’s military chief said this week.
“We won’t ease the rules of engagement,” said Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz, the Israel Defense Forces’ chief of staff. “If we let go of the reins, there will be an escalation and we’ll lose control.”
At a meeting of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee May 28, Gantz suggested that soldiers should receive more instructions on how to adhere to the rules of engagement before going out in the field. Some right-wing lawmakers have been pressuring Gantz to ease the restrictions on use of live fire.
“Seeing besieged IDF soldiers withdraw in the face of rioters requires the IDF to think anew the instructions given to soldiers on the ground,” Reuven Rivlin, a Likud member and former Knesset speaker, told the committee.
Soldiers are prohibited from firing on Palestinian suspects who throw rocks and Molotov cocktails, except under extreme circumstances. — jta