Tel Aviv – PNN – (Palestine News Network) Israel’s Defense Ministry has allocated more than NIS 75 million to purchase ‘non-lethal’ weapons to disperse expected Palestinian protests this September, according to ynetnews.

The Ministry considers that there will be an increased possibility of confrontations between Palestinian protesters and Israel’s military following the Palestinian bid for independence at the UN.

The purchases include gas grenades, vehicle mounted rifles, water cannon and electroshock taser guns, “to be used against protesters standing close to security forces”. “The skunk”, a scent weapon manufactured in Israel which induces nausea and vomiting, was also purchased in large quantities, according to the website.

The website claims that the Israeli army did consider purchasing a US-made microwave weapon capable of paralysing anyone within a range of 100 metres, but chose not to go through with the acquisition. Due to opposition from human rights groups, the weapon is not currently used by the US itself.

The Israeli Defense Ministry Director-General, Udi Shani, has earmarked funds from both the national budget as well as foreign aid for the purchases. Republicans in the US Congress recently approved a bill which maintained Israel’s annual $3 billion of military aid, despite slashing the overall aid budget by 20%. here