A growing wave of violence that resulted in attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians, carried out by Palestinians coming from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, forced the Israeli Government to impose severe restrictions on the entry of Palestinian Arabs from the territories into Israel. Special measures were adopted to increase the size of the police and the Border Police and to replace Arab agricultural and building workers with Israelis. Text of the Government 's decision follows:
1. The cabinet, at its weekly meeting, today (Sunday), 14.3.93, sitting as the Ministerial Committee for National Security Affairs, was briefed on ongoing security matters - primarily on the matter of increased terror against civilians and soldiers - and adopted the following decision:
A. The cabinet sends its condolences to the bereaved families of the victims of criminal terror, and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.
B. The cabinet will take all necessary legal measures - with full force - against the degenerate murderers who are assaulting innocent civilians, and against those who plan terrorist [acts]. The cabinet has instructed security elements to take the required operative measures, among them [being] the intensification of supervision over those departing the Gaza Strip for the territory of the State of Israel.
C. Terror, which is currently directing all its efforts toward attacking civilians and frustrating the drive for peace, will not dictate Israeli policy. The people of Israel know to stand firm - in their spirit, and in their devotion to the struggle against the terrorists and those who execute terror [acts]. The cabinet calls on the public to respect the law and the instructions of the security forces, with regard to the non-entry of restricted areas.
D. The cabinet has recorded the proposal of the police minister on the strengthening of the Israel police and the Border Police, and has imposed the task of discussing [the above proposal] and decided thereon - as soon as possible - upon the Ministerial Committee for National Security Affairs.
E. The cabinet will, during the coming week, act toward replacing 1,000 agricultural laborers from the territories with Israeli workers, by increasing their wages and seeing to their transportation.
F. The cabinet calls on the public to maintain composure, awareness and self-control, and requests that citizens volunteer for the civil guard of the Israel Police and thereby contribute to increasing internal security.