Posted on 04/15/2010 7:48:25 AM PDT by jhpigott
Unannounced security forces' exercise creates huge traffic jams across nation; police set up roadblocks on major roads, including Tel Aviv-Jerusalem Highway. Eyewitness: I've never seen anything like it
Shmulik Grossman Latest Update: 04.15.10, 17:02 / Israel News
An unannounced police drill involving other security forces caused huge traffic jams nationwide Thursday afternoon.
As part of the exercise, authorities blocked various roads in central Israel while police forces deployed nationwide en masse. The drill involves all of Israel's emergency and rescue forces, including the IDF, Shin Bet, Fire department, Magen David Adom, and Israel Prison Service.
Police officials say that a special administration was set up by the Border Guard in order to plan and prepare the major exercise in line with existing threats. Some parts of the drill required the use of civilian "extras" in order to simulate real-time events.
Among other roads, the Ayalon Freeway in Tel Aviv was blocked in some sections, as well as the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem Highway. Elsewhere, the Coastal Road was also blocked in one interchange, as police practiced their response to a major road accident.
The drill, codenamed Heavenly Angels, is being led by Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen as part of the police's regular training plan for preparing to face various threats. Police officials stressed that the exercise was not undertaken in response to any concrete information or threat.
'Tel Aviv is like a pedestrian mall'
The drill was kept secret until Thursday morning, and was expanded by afternoon, prompting especially huge traffic jams in Tel Aviv. Local resident Ofer told Ynet he never saw such unusual sight.
"I've been living here for 38 years and I've never seen anything like it," he said. "Tel Aviv is like a pedestrian mall; people are walking on the road like they do in Yom Kippur. Motorists are coming out of their cars."
"It's unclear why they didn't announce it in advance," he said. "I would have stayed home."
Vered, another Tel Aviv motorist, said "There's never been anything like this." She left the court towards Ramat Aviv, and "after three quarters of an hour I've hardly moved." She also had serious qualms with the police.
"This is what they do on Thursday afternoon? It's unbelievable. I've never been so long in a traffic jam in my life," she said.
The exercise's spokesman, Chief Superintendent Moshe Pinchi, told Ynet: "The proportional harm is an indication of the importance that the Israel Police see in being ready for a major event, by holding an extensive nationwide exercise.
He emphasized that "The exercise requires that we cope with real-life circumstances, which meant closing various areas."
"Updates will be issued throughout the day to motorists regarding closed roads and diversions," he said. "Alternative routes will also be suggested in an effort to reduce the disturbances to regular life as much as possible."
Israel wins the first endtimes war, loses the second, IIRC.
” Be Prepared” Motto...Boy Scouts of America
I’m surprised they don’t do this more often.
“if you look over at the comments section to this article over at Ynet’s website, one of the comments is to the effect of “The last time I saw such a traffic stoppage was during the 91’ gulf war””
Exactly what I was thinking. Is Israel preparing for war?
Don’t worry Israel, The Valley Girl has your back...just as “HE” is watching over AmeriKa.
I agree. Israel has balls.
Part of me says this doesn’t fit Israel’s MO (see Sept 07’ strike on Syrian nuke facility that came out of the blue), but on the other hand when Israel has prepared for regional war (67’, 73’, 91’) they have fully and openly mobilized . . . hard to tell. Like you said, this would be one heck of a headfake. If I were sitting in Tehran, Damascus or Beirut I’d be anxious tonight.
I don’t like seeing Israel have to enter this period without bunker-busters. I hope they have procured or developed some so that they can decimate Hezbollah’s stores in short order.
Dear Lord, please watch over Israel and keep her safe from the enemies that surround her—and please forgive the person in our White House who has turned his back on Israel so grievously—please do not count that against the majority of AMERICANS who support Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu as they do whatever it takes to protects themselves!
Praying for the peace of Jerusalem, which will NEVER occur as long as Muslims occupy the Temple Mount—
Amen!
I personally believe we may have decades since, among other things, the temple hasn’t been rebuilt, once it is, I’ll start to think things are really coming close.
You’re absolutely right, we may not be at the End, endtimes, but we are nearing, Israel was restored, among other prophecies, I don’t think there’s long. Years, I think, but not generations. IMO.
While we don’t know with certainty, Christ Himself, told us that there would be signs, and if we looked for them, we’d know, just like a pregnant woman who’s getting close. We may not know the day or hour (well now we’re more accurate, but that’s not to disparage the accurancy of the analogy), we may not know the precise time, but with each passing day and hour, we know we’re getting closer, and once “Trevail,” or “Labor” in the pregnancy parable is upon us, we’ll know the return or “Birth” is eminent.
Hence, I see the belly swelling, but don’t see labor pangs yet.
I think its hard to tell because of the rockets. They may be preparing for an unimaginable volley of rockets, or they may be prepping for war (war would very, very likely follow a volley also).
It’s hard to tell, but things are heating up, and tonight’s the new moon!
Given Israel’s history of pre-emptive military moves, I suspect if they caught wind of an imminent Hezbollah (or Syrian/Iranian) missile/rocket barrage they would hit first
I am glad to know that Israel is taking good precaution just now and preparing for disaster. I pray an attack never comes, I want this little nation to survive.
I agree, but I think I saw a figure of 30,000 rockets they thought might be used. That’s impossible to stop, and impossible to pre-emptively eliminate unless they are clustered, greatly. Also, given the climate, it may end up being a much more difficult position with each side surrounding Israel pledging to attack is any other Arab country is attack.
Sad, and difficult position for Israel, but I feel confident she’ll come out on top. We have to keep her in our prayers, because we as a nation, must not turn our backs to her, even if the leadership does. We can bless her, even if we are facing our own domestic issues, and in doing so, be blessed.
Biblical prophecy states she will be seiged, but she’ll make it out ok in the end, after some very rough sports. But I pray that’s she’ll be ok too, because, among other things, her people have endured endless trials for their entire existence, most recently a Holocaust (not the nation-state, but nation-people).
I remember seeing a clip as a kid of a woman closing the bomb shutters on her apartment, as a demonstration, and her talking about a few of the bombings she was injured in. It almost made me cry. I cannot imagine walking to school, going to work, coming home to the kids, and worrying about a bomb blowing us up at any given moment. God bless Israel, and keep her safe!
Interesting.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.