Israel's military chief of staff Shaul Mofaz revealed on Tuesday that Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank have been given orders to take "all necessary measures" to prevent Palestinian demonstrators from breaking through the perimeter fence of settlements in case of attack, reported Haaretz newspaper.
The orders clearly imply that the defenders of the settlements are authorized to shoot with live fire in order to prevent entry, said the paper.
Mofaz told the Knesset foreign policy and defense committee of the orders during an extensive briefing regarding the possible scenarios of clashes with the Palestinians, the paper said.
According to Haaretz, military intelligence estimates suggest a broad scale conflagration is expected in the territories after the Camp David summit failure.
Mofaz said that "there are clear signs of preparations being undertaken by the Palestinian Authority for armed clashes with the IDF."
He cited stockpiling of fuel, food and medicine to fend off an Israeli siege of Palestinian towns and villages, as examples.
According to Mofaz, the Palestinians are preparing for a variety of scenarios and they have intensified their defensive preparations, reinforcing positions and outposts, Haaretz added.
Mofaz said that "it is known that the Palestinian Authority has a large supply of small arms and added that there have also been unconfirmed reports of anti-tank missiles entering the Palestinian arsenal."
He added that "part of the PA's preparations for a possible conflict with the IDF involved training sessions for hundreds of teenagers."
The chief also warned that there would be renewed trouble in southern Lebanon, both with the Hizbollah and the Palestinian groups in the refugee camps there, said the paper.
Mofaz said that Hizbollah is believed to be "preparing to kidnap IDF soldiers in an effort to exchange them with prisoners held in Israel, such as Mustafa Dirani and Sheikh Obeid," according to Haaretz - Albawaba.com
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