Home Front Command Preparing to Handle Urban Rioting in Wartime

By Hamodia Staff

YERUSHALAYIM – The IDF is taking measures to ensure the security of Israel’s roadways in the event of urban violence during wartime, as occurred in last year’s Gaza war.

The military will be holding a drill involving eight battalions of the Home Front Command and Israel Police aimed at keeping main arteries open in order to allow military convoys to pass from southern to northern Israel. The drill is part of the ongoing month-long training operation Chariots of Fire.

For example, a spokesperson said, “If there is a riot on Route 6 or Route 4, we will prepare the troops [and] train and equip them with non-lethal ammunition in order to deal with the disturbances.” This will allow traffic to continue including “vehicles and trucks traveling to reinforce Iron Dome batteries.”

 [However], “since the issue of public order is the responsibility of the Israel Police, this will be taken in coordination with them.”

The outgoing chief of the Technological and Logistics Directorate said in November he was “really concerned” that rioting in Arab and ethnically mixed communities similar to last May has “significant potential to delay the ability to maneuver IDF troops.”