New orders giving army troops greater leeway to use plastic bullets against Palestinian rioters in the administered territories were reviewed Wednesday by the Inner Cabinet.
The legality of the new instructions was also discussed by the Justice Ministry.
But neither body reached any conclusions as Israelis expressed concern over the high Palestinian casualty rate and worried about the Jewish state’s tarnished image abroad.
The Inner Cabinet was briefed by two ranking IDF officers, Gen. Amram Mitzna, commander of the central sector, which embraces the West Bank, and Gen. Yitzhak Mordechai of the southern command, which includes the Gaza Strip.
But the discussions, which began at last week’s Inner Cabinet meeting, developed into a debate over whether the intifada, as the Arabs call the uprising, can be brought to an end before there is a political settlement.
Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin reportedly thinks so. Others differ.
Minister of Science and Development Ezer Weizman urged immediate direct talks with the Palestine Liberation Organization. But the coalition agreement signed by Likud and Labor when the current government was formed explicitly rejects such negotiations.
Ariel Sharon, the minister of industry and trade, said the government has to unite behind a single policy.
Sharon implied criticism of his Herut colleague, Foreign Minister Moshe Arens, for suggesting to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee last week that Israeli policy could be more flexible.
The Inner Cabinet debate will continue next week on the subject of rubber bullets.
Ha’aretz reported Wednesday that Rabin told Knesset members that rubber bullets were replaced by plastic bullets because they could not reach the minimum range at which IDF troops are permitted to fire.
Ha’aretz also said senior military sources confirmed that local commanders have been ordered to keep shooting to the minimum because of the public outcry over casualties.
Davar said Rabin informed the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that disturbances have decreased since high schools were closed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
There were no reports of unrest Wednesday.
The Justice Ministry, meanwhile, is hearing expert opinion from the military and civilian jurists on the legality of the new shooting orders.
Attorney General Yosef Harish has asked for further clarification from the army. Harish will have to defend the military establishment before the High Court of Justice, where the Israel Human Rights League has filed an appeal against the use of plastic or rubber bullets.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
