Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak is considering declaring the West Bank city of Bethlehem a closed military area during the Christmas holiday if Palestinians do not stop firing on the Jewish settlement of Gilo, reported The Jerusalem Post newspaper.
It said that Barak received the closure recommendation last week, but put off the extreme decision pending a Palestinian curb on the armed attacks.
According to the paper, Barak is delaying taking the decision until the eve of the holiday.
On Monday, a female Jewish settler was seriously injured during an exchange of fire between armed Palestinians and Israeli troops near the Giol settlement.
Last week, the Israeli army tripled the number of soldiers protecting the Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza strip -- Albawaba.com
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