Special to WorldTribune.com

TEL AVIV — The Israel Army has been training to counter a
Palestinian uprising in the West Bank.

The Army’s Central Command conducted a major exercise on Feb. 27 to
improve skills and coordination in quelling Palestinian riots in the West
Bank.

The exercise took place at the command’s training base at Lachish and
simulated a riot that included the hurling of stones and firebombs.

“We are witnessing a continuing process of undermining the stability of the security situation,” Brig. Gen. Hagai Mordechai, commander of the Army’s Judea and Samaria Division, said.

“Consequently, we prepared a series of advanced training sessions, including the training session that we’re holding today.”

The training session, held amid violent Palestinian protests against
Israel, was attended by regular and reserve officers. Officers said the
exercise was meant to coordinate such security units as the civilian
police, Border Police and the Defense Ministry.

“There are new challenges that demand understanding, operational
expertise and the formation of a common language in responding to
incidents,” Col. Yosef Pinto, commander of the Binyamin Regional Brigade, said.

Officers said exercise participants were ordered to act with restraint
against Palestinian civilians. They stressed the value of working with
the Defense Ministry’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the
Territories, which maintains contact with the Palestinian Authority.

“Our emphasis is to operate precisely, selectively, professionally, with
significant restraint, with an understanding that that’s the right thing
both ethically — in line, of course, with the values of the Israel Defense
Forces — and in terms of the stability of the security situation,”
Mordechai said.

  Binyamnin Regional Brigade, Brig. Gen. Hagai Mordechai, Col. Yosef Pinto, Israel Army’s Judea and Samaria Division, Israeli Army exercise prepares for Palestinian riots