Robert Bandanza
January 5th, 2010, 03:29 AM
05/01/2010 The Home Front Command is planning to begin distribution of individual protection kits, i.e. gas masks, to every settler starting in late February, according to a cabinet decision taken last week.
Originally, just over 60 percent of the population were to receive kits, but a decision to extend that protection to the whole country means the production of the necessary equipment has been stepped-up, and another billion shekels is needed to fund to the endeavor.
The plan is to distribute protective kits to each of the nearly eight million citizens (in line with a population estimate for 2013), over a period of three years.
Debate over how to appropriately defend against chemical and biological warfare has been ongoing at both the political and professional levels for more than a decade. Both the defense establishment and the Israeli army have been involved in discussions.
An exercise simulating a response to a biological warfare attack will be carried out in the Dan region next week.
The exercise, which will be the largest of its kind in the Zionist entity's history, will be carried out in Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, and Holon and aims to evaluate the ability of the Home Front, the medical services, rescue teams and the municipal authorities to respond in the conditions created by a biological catastrophe caused either by fighters or by accident.
The exercise, code named Orange Flame, will be held on Wednesday and Thursday next week, and rescue units of the Home Front Command and special detection units of the Health Ministry, will be tasked to locate the biological hazard and deal with hundreds of citizens who were hypothetically exposed to the substance.
Major hospitals, like Ichilov, Tel Hashomer and Sheba, as well as health maintenance organization clinics will prepare to receive the injured in the simulated incident.
Three centers for the reception of those affected will be set up at Beit Dani in Tel Aviv, at Winter Stadium in Ramat Gan, and at the Holon Country Club, where more than 1,000 volunteers will be sent.
The volunteers have been trained to behave like people who have been exposed to biological agents, and they will receive treatment at the three centers. The purpose of the exercise is to "train the country to deal with biological terrorism attacks," according to Israeli Brigadier General (res.) Ze'ev Snir, who is the defense minister's special assistance on the subject.
"The first challenge is to contain the damage as much as possible and then to identify the material involved so it will be possible to continue with normal life," according to Danny Laor, head of emergency services at the Health Ministry.
Both officials spoke at a press briefing on the planned exercise.
"Many things have been done since the Second Lebanon War. The cabinet decision last week is another step in this direction," an Israeli security source said. "It is not a sign of fear but of greater preparedness. Whoever is planning to fire missiles at Israel should know that we are ready to protect our population."
http://www.almanar.com.lb/newssite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=118354&language=en
JEWISH* entity.
Originally, just over 60 percent of the population were to receive kits, but a decision to extend that protection to the whole country means the production of the necessary equipment has been stepped-up, and another billion shekels is needed to fund to the endeavor.
The plan is to distribute protective kits to each of the nearly eight million citizens (in line with a population estimate for 2013), over a period of three years.
Debate over how to appropriately defend against chemical and biological warfare has been ongoing at both the political and professional levels for more than a decade. Both the defense establishment and the Israeli army have been involved in discussions.
An exercise simulating a response to a biological warfare attack will be carried out in the Dan region next week.
The exercise, which will be the largest of its kind in the Zionist entity's history, will be carried out in Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, and Holon and aims to evaluate the ability of the Home Front, the medical services, rescue teams and the municipal authorities to respond in the conditions created by a biological catastrophe caused either by fighters or by accident.
The exercise, code named Orange Flame, will be held on Wednesday and Thursday next week, and rescue units of the Home Front Command and special detection units of the Health Ministry, will be tasked to locate the biological hazard and deal with hundreds of citizens who were hypothetically exposed to the substance.
Major hospitals, like Ichilov, Tel Hashomer and Sheba, as well as health maintenance organization clinics will prepare to receive the injured in the simulated incident.
Three centers for the reception of those affected will be set up at Beit Dani in Tel Aviv, at Winter Stadium in Ramat Gan, and at the Holon Country Club, where more than 1,000 volunteers will be sent.
The volunteers have been trained to behave like people who have been exposed to biological agents, and they will receive treatment at the three centers. The purpose of the exercise is to "train the country to deal with biological terrorism attacks," according to Israeli Brigadier General (res.) Ze'ev Snir, who is the defense minister's special assistance on the subject.
"The first challenge is to contain the damage as much as possible and then to identify the material involved so it will be possible to continue with normal life," according to Danny Laor, head of emergency services at the Health Ministry.
Both officials spoke at a press briefing on the planned exercise.
"Many things have been done since the Second Lebanon War. The cabinet decision last week is another step in this direction," an Israeli security source said. "It is not a sign of fear but of greater preparedness. Whoever is planning to fire missiles at Israel should know that we are ready to protect our population."
http://www.almanar.com.lb/newssite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=118354&language=en
JEWISH* entity.