Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and his security cabinet began a meeting Wednesday to discuss possible responses to continued violence in the Palestinian territories, Barak's office announced.
During the meeting, they will discuss with the country's military top brass the various possible military responses that might be made to the killing Monday of four Israelis in two ambushes, acts that are perceived as an escalation of the Palestinian uprising.
The Israeli army already arrested overnight 15 members of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fateh faction, saying they are suspects in shootings against Israeli civilians and soldiers.
Meanwhile, dozens of Jewish settlers and militants of right-wing opposition parties demonstrated in front of Barak's offices as night fell to demand that the government give the military more freedom to act.
"Let the army win the battle," shouted the demonstrators, among which were members of the National Religious Party, the radio said -- JERUSALEM (AFP)
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