Netanyahu: We will hurt anyone who tries to hurt us

Ahead of a meeting in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his top ministers were expected to approve using live fire to deter rock throwing and firebombs, the prime minister said, „Rocks and firebombs are lethal weapons. They kill, and have killed. That is why in recent days we have changed the police’s rules of engagement in Jerusalem.”

Speaking at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu went on to say that the use of live fire had already been implemented in certain parts of Jerusalem, where violence has flared up over recent days. „Over the weekend, the police used new tools and abided by new directives, hitting rock throwers and firebombers,” he said.

„We will further expand the police’s freedom of conduct to prevent rock throwing and firebombing, and we will deploy more forces under the simple principle that we uphold within our borders: We will hurt anyone who tries to hurt us,” he declared.

„We have begun to expedite legislation to impose fines on the parents of minors who throw rocks and firebombs,” he added.

Netanyahu also mentioned the proposal to instate minimum sentences, saying, „We cannot accept the fact that in Jerusalem, our capital, or in any part of the State of Israel, people organize popular terrorism and throw rocks and firebombs on passing vehicles. This norm will not be permitted to take hold here. We will instate the opposite norm — we will stop you while you attack; we will punish you to the fullest extent of the law after you attack. This is the norm that we will provide to all the citizens, residents and judges in Israel. With all due respect to the courts, it is our right and our duty to determine this norm, the way we did with sexual offenses.”

Following the cabinet meeting, the prime minister was scheduled to meet with the defense, public security and justice ministers as well as representatives of the attorney general’s office and the security forces to discuss the new deterrence measures.

In previous meetings on the topic, the attorney general approved the use of Ruger sniper rifles in Jerusalem. The use of the rifles has already been implemented in specific areas where a threat to human life was determined.

The Ruger rifle is well suited to quell violence because it causes less damage than other live fire weapons. But after the riots in 2000, its use was discontinued outside Judea and Samaria. In Sunday’s meeting, the ministers were expected to rework the existing rules of engagement involving live fire, allowing more leeway.

Under the new regulations, police officers will be allowed to use live fire in situations that pose a threat to civilians. Rock throwing and firebombs will now officially fall under the category of „threat” thereby permitting the use of live fire in situations where rocks or firebombs are used.

In another initiative, the ministers wish to impose hefty fines on the parents of minors apprehended while throwing rocks. Another memorandum proposes heavy minimum sentences for such crimes.

Meanwhile, as both the Jewish Yom Kippur holiday and the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday approach, the Israel Police deployed operational units across Jerusalem and boosted its presence in volatile neighborhoods in the city. A joint police-Shin Bet security agency task force has been established for the purpose of gathering intelligence and conducting interrogations.

Culture minister proposes stripping benefits from rock throwers

Culture Minister Miri Regev plans to promote legislation that would strip Arabs caught throwing rocks or firebombs of their national insurance stipends. Regev, who was expected to present her proposal to Netanyahu and senior ministers on Sunday, also seeks to revoke the benefits of the culprits’ parents in the event of the conviction of a minor.

„The situation in Jerusalem has become very serious and dangerous,” Regev said Saturday. „Terrorism compromises the safety of the city’s residents as well as their sense of security. This must be stopped by way of harsh deterrence measures. Most of the rock throwers and firebombers today are minors who are indoctrinated. The existing penalties for minors are very limited, and they take advantage of that. From now on, the parents will take responsibility for the terrorist actions of their children.

„On the eve of the [Rosh Hashanah] holiday, we were painfully reminded that rocks can kill. It is unfathomable that murderers and their families receive national insurance benefits from the state. The government of Israel needs to promise the family of Alexander Levlovich that their tax money isn’t funding the families of rock-throwing terrorists. It is time to put an end to this farce. People who hurt Israel and its citizens in any way will not get any kind of support. I plan to present this legislation to the cabinet, to all the relevant ministries, as quickly as possible. I expect the Zionist parties in the opposition to vote in favor of this law.”