IDF to suspend round-up operations in the West Bank
By Amos Harel Haaretz

The IDF will suspend rounding up wanted Palestinians in the West Bank, if they are likely to open fire, military sources said over the weekend. The decision follows last Thursday's High Court of Justice ruling outlawing the use of Palestinians as "human shields" in any way while arresting wanted activists. Senior military sources said that since it was no longer allowed to send Palestinian civilians ahead of soldiers into houses where wanted people had barricaded themselves, these operations should be suspended to avoid unnecessary risk to soldiers' lives. The operations will be suspended until new procedures are formulated. However, in cases of "ticking bombs" - where there is a specific tip about a terrorist planning an imminent attack - the forces will be operated despite the risk involved. IDF sources recently blasted the court ruling, saying it endangered the lives of the soldiers and does not reflect understanding of the conditions on the ground. However, Chief of Staff Dan Halutz ordered the High Court decision be respected immediately. The IDF's Operations Division will start drawing conclusions from the court ruling about the arrest operations in the territories this week. The officers will examine, in consultation with the Military Advocate General, whether the ruling left a legal loophole enabling these operations after all. This is following Justice Mishael Cheshin's comment in the verdict that  perhaps it would be possible to legitimize the practice after the fact, if it transpires that the wanted person was exceptionally dangerous.