“Israel” to Simulate Unprecedented Biological Warfare Disaster

Local Editor, 5-1-2010

"Israel" sets for launching an exercise simulating a response to biological warfare in Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, and Holon.

The exercise is the largest of its kind in the Zionist state‘s history, and intends to assess the ability of the "Israeli" Home Front, the medical services, rescue teams and the municipal authorities to respond in the circumstances formed by a biological attack.

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 in charge of locating the biological risk and deal with hundreds of citizens who were supposedly exposed to the substance.

According to Haaretz, Major hospitals, like Ichilov, Tel Hashomer and Sheba, as well as health maintenance organization clinics will set to accept the injured in the simulated incident.
Three centers for the reception of those affected will be prepared 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 substances, 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.

Besides, the "Israeli" army conducted major modifications in the last weeks, deploying additional reservation units along the West Bank front. The exercise includes firing live ammunition and training to confront Palestinian and Lebanese resistance.