Security and defense: Early alert (IDF's Southern Border Network)

Jerusalem Post ^ | 04/26/2014 | Yaakov Lappin

[goldstategop]

“We’re called the Eitam Battalion because that was the name of the second stop overtaken by [the biblical] Israelites in Sinai, on their way out of Egypt,” Savion said. “We are a strategic combat response to any developments on this border. If we see travelers in this region during the holidays, it’s a sign we are succeeding.”

THIS IS how the battalion works: The surveillance towers growing out of the dunes feed control centers with advanced radar and visual imagery, and the data is sent to two regional control centers.

From there, controllers scanning their screens direct security forces to the sites of any unusual or suspicious movements.

On the ground, in camouflaged positions, members of the battalion’s field lookout company keep watch.

These squads are made up exclusively of highly trained female soldiers (forming the only all-female combat unit in the IDF).

“They lie in wait in their positions for days, searching for intruders,” Savion said, speaking of the young women with a quiet pride.

[goldstategop]

Its an elite IDF unit - all female staffed by the way - that keeps both human and electronic tabs on Israel's southern border with Egypt. Its a critical link in the country's defenses against jihadi terrorism and illegal infiltration. The challenges facing Eitam Battalion 727 are immense, the desert environment is harsh and life or death decisions must often be made in minutes. But is it clearly up to the task of defending the country and the young people who run it have a weighty task on their shoulders. This is the Jerusalem Post's first look at its secretive workings.

[Netz]

Peace with an Arab state = Israel building fence, EW systems against terrorist infiltrations and Iron dome systems to knock out incoming missiles. Hmmmm, interesting to see what “peace” looks like with the Islamicists and Paleostinians...

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

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[SunkenCiv]

Thanks goldstategop.