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IDF strives to avoid harming civilians in Nablus NABLUS - Each time Lieutenant Colonel Shmuel's jeep crossed the road yesterday in central Nablus, it was pelted by rocks. Occasionally a Molotov cocktail was thrown in that landed close to the vehicle used by the commander of the Paratrooper Brigade patrol unit. Throngs of furious Palestinian teenagers and children joined the attack on Shmuel's, and other jeeps. These images, along with burning tires on the fringe of Nablus' open market area, recalled the days of the first intifada. But, in the final analysis, the Palestinian attacks against the specially fortified jeeps appeared somewhat pathetic. The jeeps' mirrors were shattered some time ago; but apart from these cracks, the Israel Defense Forces soldiers felt rather well protected. No soldier was willing to take the trouble to try to disperse the crowds - the soldiers understood that such stone-throwing groups often try to lure them toward armed gunmen. Two weeks into the IDF's operation in Nablus, the city is supposed to be under a tight curfew. The curfew, however, exists mostly in radio reports. The IDF has reduced its troops in downtown Nablus; forces which try to track down terror suspects and explosives laboratories have little manpower and time to worry about enforcing the curfew. Yesterday, hundreds of Nablus residents mingled in the city's central areas, casbah market stalls opened for business and dozens of cars and taxi cabs rolled around the streets. City business was being conducted when the army jeeps rumbled near the market area. It was then that groups of young people scrambled to "improve their positions" to hurl rocks at the army vehicles. Older residents placidly watched the youths prepare for the stand-off. In effect, two very different urban processes unfolded in parallel, with only a narrow street separating them. On one side there was the noisy open market. On the other, there was a violent skirmish. `I don't want to kill 8 year olds' Palestinian car owners paid the price for the ongoing scuffling between Israel's army and the stone throwers. Some of the stones hit Palestinian cars, breaking their windshields and windows. When the IDF started its operation in Nablus, officers noted that its success would be measured partly by its ability to avert causing harm to civilians. A previous IDF operation carried out by the Golani Brigade in Jenin was, by this criterion, a clear-cut success. During 17 days of IDF activity in Jenin, just one Palestinian was killed - a top terror suspect, Iyad Swalha. Nablus, however, is a completely different story. Virtually from the operation's first hours, Paratroopers have faced stormy, violent demonstrations involving hundreds of young people. Often, these demonstrations are a springboard to gunfire incidents. Two Palestinian teenagers were killed by IDF fire during such skirmishes, and two days ago a boy (either 8 or 11 years old - there are two different versions of his age) was also killed in Nablus. For the first time in the West Bank, Nablus has displayed a phenomenon which had been seen only at Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Children are not content to stop at stone throwing; they also use Molotov cocktails, makeshift hand grenades and even small bombs. Children even climb atop IDF fortified vehicles and vandalize equipment which they carry, such as stretchers. These forays are filmed by television cameras. In a talk last week with IDF Central Commander Maj. Gen. Moshe Kaplinski, Lt. Col. Shmuel said his soldiers have the authority to "take down" (hit with gunfire) Molotov cocktail throwers. Asked why he doesn't do so, if this is the case, Shmuel replied, "Because I don't want to kill 8 year olds." Paratroopers, in fact, refrain from opening fire against young Palestinians. In fact, the IDF has invested extensive effort, thought and monitoring into avoiding lethal gunfire skirmishes provoked by young Palestinian rock throwers. That said, the IDF does need to reevaluate some of its rules of engagement. For instance, procedures governing gunfire responses to Molotov cocktail throwers who are surrounded by groups of children need to be reconsidered. Difficulties faced by IDF soldiers are illustrated by an incident which transpired Tuesday night. A group of Paratroopers went to arrest a terror suspect in a Nablus houses. As they approached the building, they heard a metal noise, that they believed it was a cocked rifle. Then three figures were seen escaping from the house. Complying with IDF procedures for stopping terrorists, the soldiers fired warning shots into the air. The three continued to flee. Another IDF group noticed that one of the three was carrying either a firearm or a club. The soldiers fired some more shots. One of the three Palestinians was killed; another was detained, the third continued to flee. It turned out that none of the three were connected to the terror suspects. The sticks were used to beat pots and pans for Ramadan prayers (the scuffling of the pots was apparently the cause of the suspicious, rifle-cocking noise). Hence, lack of knowledge about local custom and observances caused an unnecessary death. This incident, and others, reinforces the need to reinstitute the old rules of engagement guiding principle: Soldiers should open fire only when they face mortal threats. By Amos Harel