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."
Surprise police drill paralyzes nation (Israel)
“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””
Is Israel preparing for war?
[Thanks, thouworm.]
Tonight’s the full moon too, right?
Sure is. I’ve said it twice, but no one else seems to link that together. Thanks for seconding that gut feeling.
Err, make that “New Moon” not full moon...
End times serious?
I haven’t heard the trumpet yet ;-)
I personally think we will endure a lot of bad stuff before we see Him in the clouds.
For the past few years, I’ve always paid a little extra attention during the “new moon phase”. That being said, I can’t recall a time during those last few years where things seemed to line up during that new moon period like they are currently . . .
"Interesting" doesn't begin to describe the situation.
Me too. I was tipped off on here about 2 years ago, before the 2008 elections, about the significance of the New Moon phase. I’ve been watching, and today, I don’t feel so certain, but it feels mighty likely that something is up, especially with the recall from Sinai. I should probably fill up before TSHTF... ust sayin ;O
Yeah, I’ve been scratching my head too over such events usually are a complete surprise (as in “why is part of Syria smoking this morning?”). Then again, this one could be so **** huge that they MUST get the nation ready first, and a good option on the side is to, if opposition will be aware, do so in a way that leaves them waiting terrified for a while first.
FWIW -
Police drill simulates terrorist takeover
Published: 04.15.10, 17:26 / Israel News
Tel Aviv District Police Chief Major-General Shahar Ilan said that the transport division is working to alleviate traffic jams in the city, caused by a special police drill.
He added that the drill simulates a terrorist takeover of two buildings in Tel Aviv and noted the that exercise commenced five hours ago.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3876684,00.html
That's the ONLY way to have a drill. If it's 'announced' they could have not a true assessment of how the country would react ...
Still, this is a very, very development, thanks for the post.
Waking up to Increasing Hizbullah Danger
by Hillel Fendel
The U.S. is not happy with the Syrian transfer of missiles to Lebanon - and Israel will have to take action, an expert says.
Prof. Eyal Zisser, head of the Dayan Center for Middle Eastern Studies in Tel Aviv University, told Arutz-7 that the news requires Israel to make some difficult decisions. “There’s no question that the transfer of [these missiles] is an escalation,” Zisser said. “These Scuds are more precise than those that Saddam Hussein launched at us in the Gulf War of 1991, and they have a longer range as well.”
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/137032
Whoa...
God BLESS our Israeli friends..
somebody(s) is going to wind up on the wrong end of a bomb becuase of all this -
Israeli official warns against continuing arms smuggling to Hezbollah
April 15, 2010
Israeli Chairperson of the Knesset Security and Foreign Affairs Committee Tzahi Hanegbi warned on Thursday that continued arms smuggling from Syria to Hezbollah would lead to increased security tension, NOW Lebanon’s correspondent Amal Shehadeh quoted Hanegbi as saying to the Israeli radio.
“Syria is committing a grave mistake by not committing to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which prohibits arms smuggling to Hezbollah,” he said.
Hanegbi added that the Syrian leadership is playing with fire.
http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticl...aspx?ID=161008
Amen.
My first thought though was in an unannounced drill that brings a nation to a standstill, is a huge learning incident.
If it wasn’t a drill how many would have been victims. And would a more appropriate order to the people have been to shelter in place?
DOH! That’s what I meant too, LOL!
15:05 Syria FM: Israel may be using Scud accusation as pretense for attack (Reuters)
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