IDF seeks to restrain itself also in West Bank

Defense minister says 'operations there will carry on as usual,' but Central Command chief changes rules of detentions to give chance for 'formal' truce in Gaza. Meanwhile, 15 terror suspects arrested overnight

Reuters | Published: 12.04.06, 09:42

While the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip continues, to the exception of scant violations and occasional Qassam attacks, the Israel Defense Forces is trying to lower the flames in the West Bank.

Although on the ground operations continue, the responsibility for approving operations has been shifted to higher-ranked officers.

The political echelon has not ordered the IDF to expand the truce to the West Bank, but more so: Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Sunday that operations there will continue as usual in light of increasing numbers of terror alerts.

But Central Command Chief Maj.-Gen. Yair Naveh altered instructions for opening fire in order to give the truce a chance.

Orders to make an arrest in daylight can only be handed down by division commanders or more senior officers. The army wants to avoid riots which usually occur when troops seek to arrest wanted terror suspect in broad daylight.

Excuse to violate ceasefire

Clashes between Palestinian rioters and soldiers during arrest raid in the West Bank could give terror groups in the Gaza Strip an excuse to violate the shaky ceasefire there.

But soldiers are not feeling a dramatic change in the extent of operations: On Sunday a Palestinian teenager was shot dead in the Askar refugee camp in Nablus during confrontations between stone-throwers and soldiers.

Fifteen wanted terror suspects were arrested Sunday night across the West Bank.

Also Sunday, the Islamic Jihad pulled out of the ceasefire agreement in protest at Israel's operations in the West Bank and vowed to launch suicide bombing attacks.