REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JERUSALEM -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that measures against Palestinian stone-throwers will be further toughened, after new rules allowing live sniper fire against them were employed by the police over the weekend.

"Over the weekend, security forces have used the new measures and struck the stone-throwers and Molotov cocktail-throwers," Netanyahu said at the start of his weekly cabinet meeting. He did not elaborate on specific incidents in which snipers fired live bullets against stone-throwers.

"Today we will approve a further expansion of the police's ability to act against the throwing of stones and Molotov cocktails," he added.

Netanyahu also said that his government is pushing forward a new legislation to impose heavier fines on parents of stone-thrower youths.

In a remark directed at the courts, Netanyahu said he also supports the setting minimum sentences against stone-throwers. "We seek to instill in all the citizens of Israel and all the judges of Israel" a norm of maximum penalties, he said.

The moves came amidst escalating clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians in Jerusalem, including an increasing number of stone and firebomb attacks on Israeli cars in the city.

The clashes were triggered by a struggle over visiting rights to the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount compound in East Jerusalem, a holy site to both Muslims and Jews.

Israeli media reported on Thursday that Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein approved a new procedure allowing police to shoot live 0. 22 caliber bullets at Palestinian stone-throwers in Jerusalem.

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