IDF’s Yehudah and Shomron Division Begins Intensive Training to Counter Infiltrations

The recent terrorist infiltrations into Jewish communities in Yehudah and Shomron – one of which led to the tragic murder of mother-of-six Mrs. Dafna Meir, Hy”d – have forced Israel to begin training more intensively for this scenario. This week, the Yehudah and Shomron Division began intensive training exercises focused on how to combat terrorists who manage to infiltrate Jewish communities.

The security issues of recent months pose many challenges to the security forces. For now it was decided to focus on the direct protection of communities and the threat of infiltration.

Two of the highest-ranking officers in the area – Yehudah and Shomron Division commander Brig.-Gen. Lior Carmeli and Binyamin District Brigade commander Col. Yisrael Shumer – led a large-scale training exercise in the town of Ofrah this week. All the regional brigade commanders in Yehudah and Shomron participated, sitting in on lessons and reviewing all elements of community protection.

In addition, IDF forces trained with local civil emergency squads and their security coordinators, practicing an array of different scenarios related to terrorist infiltrations.

“Working together with the local emergency teams in the various communities,” says Binyamin Brigade defense officer Maj. Moayah Padali, “will enable us to act quickly in real time and respond militarily to these threats in the most effective manner. We have to envision clearly the various events that are liable to come upon us. That is the only way we can be optimally prepared for the upcoming threats.”

The objective of the training seminar was not only to man positions and practice chasing terrorists; it was also to establish a uniform modus operandi that will enable IDF and civilian security forces to handle terrorist incidents jointly.

“When we invest time and effort in practicing, down to the smallest details, we know we can achieve better results – and that is precisely what we are striving for,” Padali added.

The training preparations included the in-depth examination of the defense systems encompassing the various towns, known collectively as the Shabam – Special Security Zone – System. Comprised of cameras and various electronic means, they detect even slight movement around the perimeter of the towns.

Regional officer Padali summed up: “The recent events in our division area require us to continue to improve the solutions that we offer, in order to maintain maximum readiness for every possible scenario that our forces may have to meet, no matter how extreme.”