Israel boosts Jerusalem security, reviews rules of engagement

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday he was boosting security in Jerusalem and reviewing rules for when police may open fire, after an increase in stone-throwing and firebombings.

Tensions have been rising in recent months, worsening after the July 31 firebombing of a Palestinian home in the West Bank, attributed to Jewish extremists, killed a toddler and fatally wounded his father.

Netanyahu's office said he had ordered that "two additional border police companies (some 300 officers) and approximately 400 Israel police personnel" be stationed in Jerusalem.

Police declined to say exactly how many officers are currently deployed there, but did say there are a few thousand in the city and surrounding areas.

Military units will be reinforced along Route 443, a major artery between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, which cuts through the occupied West Bank for several kilometres (miles), Netanyahu's office said.

"Intelligence and observation efforts" will also be stepped up, the statement said.

"The policy is zero tolerance for stone-throwing and zero tolerance for terrorism."

In addition, the premier said that "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."

Current rules of engagement allow soldiers and police to open live fire only in the case of immediate danger to their lives or the public, and only after a series of warning shots.

Parliament recently approved a law establishing prison sentences of up to 10 years for those throwing stones at moving vehicles in Israel and east Jerusalem.

A number of Israelis have been killed in recent years by stones thrown at their cars on West Bank roads.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said there was "a rise in nationalistic attacks" by Palestinians in east Jerusalem and around the city, including stones and firebombs.

On Wednesday, a firefighting force was stoned by residents in east Jerusalem's Issawiya neighbourhood, police said, and the light rail was hit by rocks to the north in Shuafat, also in the city's Palestinian sector.

South of Jerusalem, in the West Bank village Aida, border policemen identified a Palestinian about to throw an explosive device at them late Wednesday.

Police shot the Palestinian in the leg, lightly wounding him, before arresting him.

A Palestinian who stabbed an Israeli civilian at a petrol station on Route 443 was shot dead by Israeli troops last month, and another Palestinian was shot dead after stabbing a soldier near a checkpoint.

Source: AFP