Where The Line Is Drawn XII

"This was a war different from other wars. This wasn't a war between armies following the rules of engagement. This was a war between combatants and civilians. To the Israelis we were all potential terrorists against whom the worst behaviour was justified." (pp. 104-105)

Comments:

every civilian is not a potential terrorist;
every potential terrorist is not an actual terrorist;
the worst behavior cannot be justified and indeed incites responses categorized as "terrorist."

"Clearly the Israelis were following the recommendations of their American supporters, who advised them to close off the Occupied Territories and do what they had to do - ruthlessly, quickly and without observation by journalists." (p. 105)

Questions:

Why did the Americans support this repression?
Was it public knowledge that they had made these recommendations?
What did the Israelis "have to do"?
Why did it have to be done without journalistic observation?