War Simulation Kicks Off in "Israel"

Source: Al Manar TV, 07-04-2008
Dozens of 'Israeli' settlers were "killed" on Sunday as 'Israel' went to "war" with Syria, Hizbullah and Hamas on the first day of the country's largest-ever emergency exercise, "Turning Point 2."
The five-day drill opened with an announcement by 'Israeli' Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at the weekly cabinet meeting of an outbreak of hostilities following the firing of Katyusha rockets into northern occupied territories by Hizbullah in Lebanon. The simulated conflict quickly escalated and by the afternoon - representing the fourth day of the war - 'Israel' was also being hit by Syrian missiles and Hamas-fired Qassams and Katyushas.
An 'Israeli' war official involved in the exercise said that according to the National Emergency Authority - in charge of the drill - by the fourth day of the war several dozen settlers had been killed by the missiles. The official said that it was possible that by Monday, 'Israel' would also start getting hit by Iranian Shihab-3 ballistic missiles.
At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, sirens will blast nationwide; settlers are asked to use the few moments to locate the closest bomb shelter or protected room. During the exercise, rescue services will drill mass evacuations from "hit zones" - including chemical and biological attacks - and hospitals will drill their ability to treat thousands of injured.
Only some of the scenarios guiding the drill - drawn up by the recently-formed National Emergency Authority and the War Ministry - can be revealed to the public, a police source said.
The largest "incident" during the drill will take place in the Haifa Port area on Wednesday, when police and rescue services will simulate an explosion at a major chemical plant.
"This is our worst-case scenario, which is why we chose it for this week's drill," said Moshe Weizmann, spokesman for the Northern Police District. During the exercise, police officers and rescue services will put on bio-chemical protection suits to shield them from the hazardous materials that could contaminate the site, and will attempt to evacuate "victims."
"For the first time, the lessons of the Second Lebanon War will be applied and examined. First, police will arrive on the scene, and they will be followed by officials from the Home Front Command, who will take charge," he added.
For the first time, a new underground shelter will function in Haifa during the drill, which will involve 10 ambulances, two mobile intensive care units, a mobile headquarters, 26 MDA medics and paramedics, and 'Israeli' army medics. After the Second Lebanon War, it was decided to build the 600-square-meter underground shelter, at a cost of NIS 1.5 million. The shelter has all the control systems needed to coordinate rescue activity.
On the last day of the exercise - Thursday - Emek Medical Center in Afula will be the site of a simulated strike by a chemical warfare missile. The hospital has been asked to cope with a conventional missile, but at a certain stage, the hospital will receive an alert of a chemical weapon, which will "hit" near the medical center.
Around 300 simulated wounded - high school pupils and soldiers - will be rushed to the emergency room. In the first part of this exercise, the large visitors' parking lot - which will be closed to the public - will be used to wash off the "victims." The staffers will wear special protective gear, including masks, impermeable suits and gloves.