The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have been condemned for distributing free cigarettes to sol- diers assigned to protect Jewish settlements during the current Palestinian uprising. The distribution violates a 1983 law that bars "anyone from giving away tobacco products without payment." Health minister Ronni Milo sent a letter to the IDF chief of staff, General Shaul Mofaz, asking him to "reconsider the decision" to hand out cigarettes to soldiers. Mr Milo pointed out that 10 000 Israelis died each year of diseases directly connected to smoking and that the health authorities put much effort into health education against smoking. "I'm afraid that the IDF's decision is liable to seriously harm this effort," he wrote.

Mr Milo said he was aware of tension among combat soldiers, who have suffered losses almost daily during the past seven weeks, but thought there were more healthy ways to reduce it.

The IDF's chief medical officer, Dr Giora Martinovitch, who represented the armed forces on the Israel Forum for the Prevention of Smoking, declined to comment. A spokesperson for the army would only say that in light of the controversy the IDF would "reconsider" its decision to distribute free cigarettes to soldiers. The spokesperson said that because of the extended fighting, many soldiers have been unable to go home for weeks on end and "did not have pocket money" to buy cigarettes; they were thus given cigarettes, along with sweets and toothpaste.