  The cross section for electron scattering by nuclei at high momentum
transfers is calculated within the Fermi smearing approximation (FSA), where
binding effects on the struck nucleon are introduced via the relativistic
Hartree approximation (RHA). The model naturally preserves current
conservation, since the response tensor for an off-shell nucleon conserves the
same form that for a free one but with an effective mass. Different
parameterizations for the inelastic nucleon structure function, are analyzed.
The smearing at the Fermi surface is introduced through a momentum distribution
obtained from a perturbative nuclear matter calculation. Recent CEBAF data on
inclusive scattering of 4.05 GeV electrons on $^{56}$Fe are well reproduced for
all measured geometries for the first time, as is evident from the comparison
with previous calculations.
