The IDF has begun training Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria in advance of an expected Arab onslaught in September, ultra-leftist paper Haaretz reported Tuesday. Arabs are expected to try and march en masse on Jewish communities, hoping to overwhelm the Jews and provoke them into shooting at the Arabs.
Video of Jewish settlers shooting into an Arab crowd can then be used for propaganda purposes to portray Israel in a demonic light, in the classic cat-and-mouse-and-videocam manipulative tactic used by Arabs against Israel to great effect for many years.
The mass marches are to be part of a Palestinian Authority public diplomacy campaign that will accompany a PA appeal to the United Nations for recognition as an independent state.
According to Haaretz, the IDF has marked out two topographical lines of defense for each of the communities in Judea and Samaria. If an Arab mob crosses the first line, tear gas can be used against it. If it crosses the second line, the community's defenders may fire at the lower limbs of the intruders.
MK Ahmed Tibi (Raam Taal) responded to the news by saying that "the IDF is training settlers to shoot Arabs."