JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s Security Cabinet has strengthened the ability of security authorities to combat price tag attacks by labeling the attackers as an illegal organization, but stopped short of calling the attackers terrorists.

The new classification, approved at a meeting Sunday night, will make it easier for the authorities to prosecute the perpetrators of such attacks, according to reports.

“Price tag” refers to the strategy that extremist settlers and their supporters have adopted to exact retribution for settlement freezes and demolitions or Palestinian attacks on Jews. Several price tag attacks in recent months also have targeted Christian sites as well.

Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich last month proposed legislation that would classify price tag attacks as acts of terrorism, and its perpetrators terrorists. Both voted against the new classifications as part of the Security Cabinet vote on Sunday, according to reports.

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