JERUSALEM, West Bank, Jan. 16 (UPI) — An Israeli commander in the occupied West Bank ordered his soldiers not to fire on Jews “no matter what happens,” Ynetnews reported Monday.
The order from the commander in Golani’s 13th Battalion came Thursday, a day after security forces and the Civil Administration evacuated the Mitzpe Avihai outpost, Ynetnews said.
“We’re in for a rocky Saturday, so stay alert,” the unidentified commander told the Golani troops. “In any case, no matter what happens, let the world burn down for all I care, nobody opens fire at Jews! We don’t want a civil war.”
After a raid on Ephraim Brigade base last month in which an officer was slightly injured, former Defense Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer had expressed support for shooting at anyone who endangers Israeli soldiers, regardless of religion or citizenship.
An army representative said the commander’s briefing “was held in accordance with a reasonable threat evaluation and in keeping with fire protocol.”
Ynetnews said the commander also apparently told troops to keep gates at the base closed in case Jewish citizens attempt to break in.
Soldiers can use shock and gas grenades and forcefully detain rioters until they’re turned over to police, the army said.
Meanwhile, a Palestinian intelligence officer said Israeli settlers set fire to his car Monday in the West Bank, near Ramallah, Ma’an News Agency reported.
Mohammad Ghannam, the brother of Ramallah’s governor, said the car was parked in front of his house.
Last week, a senior Palestinian Authority security official said, an officer in the northern West Bank was injured when settlers fired on a vehicle and threw stones at cars.
The security commander for the Tulkarem district said a member of his entourage was taken to a hospital.
Aftermath News 
