Special to WorldTribune.com

TEL AVIV — Israel has completed plans for a major civil defense
exercise.

The Defense Ministry has approved an exercise in northern Israel meant
to defend against a biological or chemical weapons attack from Lebanon or
Syria. The two-day exercise, called Orange Flame-6, would seek to coordinate
between military and civilian authorities.

“Exercise Orange Flame-6 will take place as part of a number of
exercises in the field of unconventional terrorism,” the Defense Ministry said on Nov. 22.

The statement said the exercise, scheduled for Nov. 30 through Dec. 1, would simulate the outbreak of a biological weapons attack meant to spread an unspecified contagious disease in four cities in northern Israel. During the drill, the Defense Ministry, responsible for protection against any weapons of mass
destruction attack, would work with the Health Ministry to identify the threat and counter any epidemic.

“The aim of the exercise is to improve and increase the capabilities of the state of Israel to handle an unconventional terror attack,” Deputy Defense Minister Zev Snir said. “It is important that Israeli citizens know that there are people in the defense establishment, as well as the other relevant authorities, whose permanent job is to prepare the state of Israel
to handle these types of threats.”

Offficials said centers would be established in the cities of Afula,
Nazareth, Upper Nazareth and Tiberias to treat those suspected of infection
to biological weapons agents. Each center would be designed to treat about
5,000 people per day while hospitals would be trained to treat those with
actual symptoms.

Iran and Syria have been developing biological and chemical weapons over
the last decade. Officials said Iran’s main proxy, Hizbullah, was believed
to have been trained to install chemical warheads on tactical munitions,
including short-range rockets.

“Over the next few months, the Defense Ministry intends to hold
additional drills in the field of unconventional terrorism,” the Defense
Ministry statement said. “This is part of a wider process of increasing
Israel’s preparation, alertness and competence in dealing with this
particular threat.”

  Afula, Defense Ministry, Israeli civil defense exercise to simulate biological weapons attack, Nazareth, Orange Flame-6, Tiberias, Upper Nazareth, Zev Snir