Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., April 08, 2008 Nisan 3, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:26 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni at Sunday's Knesset meeting. (Reuters) Last update - 19:04 06/04/2008 Hezbollah No. 2: IDF drills are preparation for war on Lebanon By Barak Ravid, Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondents and Haaretz Service Tags: Ehud Olmert  Hezbollah's deputy leader said on Sunday that Israel's decision to hold nation-wide military exercises this week was intended to prepare for a new war on Lebanon. Sheik Naim Kassem also warned Sunday that the Islamic militant group was fully ready to defend Lebanon if Israel attacks again. The decision to hold the largest-ever emergency drill in Israel's history was not caused by fears of escalation on the borders with Syria and Lebanon, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said during a Knesset meeting on Sunday. Advertisement Olmert said the goal of the exercises is only to check the ability of the various areas of the Home Front Command to carry out their responsibilities, and has nothing to do with expectations of renewed fighting in the North. "Israel is not expecting any violent clashes in the North," Olmert said, adding that the Syrians "know they have no reason to assess the drill any differently." Olmert added that Israel has "an interest in holding peace talks with Syria, who know full well what our expectations are, just as we know theirs." The widespread, week-long civil defense drill began on Sunday, after a briefing by the commander of the exercise, Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai. The operative part of the drill commences on Monday. It will include, among other scenarios, a simulated missile attack on civilian areas - some with chemical warheads. Participating in the drill are the Home Front Command, the national emergency authority, government ministries and emergency services. The Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson on Sunday said the aim of the exercise is "to prepare the different services and institutes operating in the civilian environment for various emergency situations," adding that the exercise was "not planned in relation to any current events". At 10 A.M. on Tuesday a siren will be sounded throughout the country and children from kindergarten up will practice emergency procedures. State employees are also expected to drill emergency procedures at their workplaces. Immediately afterward, local governments will join the exercise, following instructions that will be distributed on the spot. The exercise will continue throughout the week, with scenarios that include a simulated hazardous material spill in the Haifa Bay, the rescue of survivors from a collapsed building in the Meron and Nazareth areas and the firing of ground-to-ground missiles equipped with chemical warheads. During the exercise, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak are to conduct situation reviews and to make decisions based on the various scenarios as they unfold. Hezbollah's southern Lebanon commander on Saturday was quoted as saying the militant group will "follow closely" the drill. "Israel's military drill is not a testament of its strength but of its frustration and despair following its defeat in the Second Lebanon War," Hezbollah television al-Manar quoted Nabil Kauk as saying. According to Lebanese security sources, Hezbollah has put its militants in a state of full alert ahead of Sunday's maneuvers. Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora on Friday called on the Lebanese army to raise its alert level, fearing that Israel may exploit the major military exercise to violate his country's sovereignty, Israel Radio reported Saturday. Siniora asked United Nations peacekeepers tasked with monitoring the border, "to be careful" that Israel will not utilize its large-scale civil defense drill "to launch operations capable of increasing tension," a statement from his office said. He also urged the Lebanese army to "be extremely vigilant and take the necessary measures to protect Lebanese civilians and face up to any Israeli violation." Lebanese Army commander General Michel Suleiman also said that he had ordered his troops to raise alert and preparation levels in all army units until the end of the Israeli military drill. Hezbollah's commander in south Lebanon, Nabil Kaouk, said that the guerilla group was closely monitoring Israeli activity along the border. He added that the civil defense drill is "not a testament of Israel's strength, but rather evidence of its frustration and despair," Israel Radio reported. The Lebanese daily A-Safir quoted senior United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) officials as saying that Israel had asked the force to pass along reassuring messages to the Lebanese government to assuage any fears regarding an Israeli attack after the guerilla group Hezbollah and the Lebanese army began preparing for possible conflict. The newspaper further reported that Israel made every effort to assure the Lebanese government that Israel has no intention of invading its territory as part of the drill. Related articles: The Home Front's hysterical calming News / IDF campaign to ready Israelis for missile strike Home Front Command briefs media on possible missile attack on Israel HEADLINE Bookmark to del.icio.us   In his father's memory Gilad Sharon's son plans to write his father's memoirs as he lies in a coma. Jammed FM Police close an English radio station which encourages Israeli-Palestinian dialogue.   1.   Is Israel ready for a war with Syria and Iran? 12:43  |  dovale 06/04/08   2.   TO NO 1 DOVDALE. SHAVOA TOV. DANNY 13:15  |  DANNY. 06/04/08   3.   TO DOVDALE. 13:24  |  DANNY. 06/04/08   4.   danny & dovale 13:37  |  Imad 06/04/08   5.   This would be the best time to attack. Just like 911 thru a drill 13:40  |  POP 06/04/08   6.   @2 Danny 13:42  |  Mark B. 06/04/08   7.   israeli leaders have to assure the population that something is 14:03  |  lakshmi 06/04/08   8.   Olmert said he had no intention 14:30  |  Chris Linthwaite 06/04/08   9.   #3 Danny 14:33  |  Chris Linthwaite 06/04/08   10.   Preparedness ?! Olmerts Has Said no Gas-Masks Until 2009 ! 14:48  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 06/04/08   11.   Danny`s nuclear threats would destroy Israel from radiation. 14:54  |  POP 06/04/08   12.   Danny, you`re suggesting that Israeli is a suicide nuclear bomber 14:56  |  POP 06/04/08   13.   lakshmi, please, have something to say 15:38  |  Akiva P 06/04/08   14.   POP= Fool 15:42  |  José Pedro 06/04/08   15.   Muganiyeh`s Assassination was an internal killing 16:08  |  * BEN JABO 06/04/08   16.   HaAretz sanitizes the news 16:25  |  * BEN JABO 06/04/08   17.   Plain smart 16:33  |  marc 06/04/08   18.   lakshmi, Re Defection on the American side... 16:37  |  Dutch 06/04/08   19.   Why say anything to Hizbo & Syria ... let them watch and wonder! 17:03  |  Yossi 06/04/08   20.   Love your Mother-in-Law 17:58  |  Ibn Musa 06/04/08   21.   RE: #19 19:12  |  Sadiq M 06/04/08   22.   ha ha ha ... 19:19  |  watcher 06/04/08   23.   Hezbollah won`t have a chance to fire lotsa rockets 19:22  |  Analyst 06/04/08   24.   Sure, if you attack us we will finsihs the unfinished war 19:32  |  Dan 06/04/08   25.   One big family 19:57  |  Di 06/04/08   26.   Mark B 21:28  |  x-ray 06/04/08   27.   Linthwaite Israel killed tens of Syrians last Sept? huh? 21:31  |  x-ray 06/04/08   28.   Military Drills 21:53  |  Citizen of the World 06/04/08   29.   This drill will improve Israel`s readiness 21:59  |  Jewboy 06/04/08   30.   To #19 - Sadiq - Evidently Ignorance is bliss 22:03  |  Shaul 06/04/08   31.   #19 doris cadigan and military discipline 22:21  |  v hardman 06/04/08   32.   DUTCH How many times people need to tell you 23:24  |  Gil 06/04/08   33.   Nice try Hezbollah No. 2 but it will not work, covering up for 23:58  |  Hezbollah No. 10 06/04/08   34.   IDF drills are preparation for war on Lebanon 00:24  |  elias 07/04/08   35.   hezbollah no2 01:06  |  azad 07/04/08   36.   RE: #30 01:10  |  Sadiq M 07/04/08   37.   The drill probably has to do with more US warmongering! 01:32  |  Maureen Ann 07/04/08   38.   #36 Maureen Ann -You forgot something 03:35  |  * BEN JABO 07/04/08   39.   Is this a threat to attack Israel 06:28  |  Jonathan 07/04/08   40.   America is no longer viewed as the protector! 09:32  |  Maureen Ann 07/04/08   41.   #40 Maureen Ann - American is the PROTECTOR 15:43  |  * BEN JABO 07/04/08   42.   Hezbolla?Iran?Syria?Russia?? 03:10  |  Bruce 08/04/08

Today Online Ben-Eliezer: If Iran attacks, we will destroy it Responses: 224 U.S. evangelist pledges $6 million in contributions to Israel Responses: 153 U.S., Israel fear Iran has N. Korean nuclear know-how Responses: 131 Akiva Eldar: Time for Bush to intervene in Mideast peace talks Responses: 74 Rosner's Domain New Guest: US should revoke support for Palestinian state Pastor Hagee vs. rabbi Yoffie, round two (WTR) New poll: Yoffie or Hagee - you can vote! The popular Condi Rice (WTR) What is worth fighting for? More Headlines 21:27 Erekat: Peace process credibility 'eaten up' by settlement activities 02:03 Home Front civil defense drills to continue with 10 A.M. siren 02:36 Opposition to national service in Israel's Arab sector is bitter 03:14 Evangelist to Yoffie: 'I'm not trying to undermine peace' 23:13 Ariel Sharon's son to pen memoir touching on father's life 12:01 Polish PM: I didn't know about my grandfather's Nazi past 00:33 Friedmann lashes back at Supreme Court and Barak 21:46 Police close English radio aimed at Israeli-Palestinian coexistence 19:36 Court rejects Katsav's plea to postpone hearing on sex charges 02:54 Gov't mulls marking Israel's 60th anniversary with tax cut 22:42 Palestinian, 15, dies after hit by bus carrying settlers in W. Bank 21:54 UN official: Gaza medical system in 'pathetic state' Previous Editions Select Day 07 apr 06 apr 04 apr 03 apr 02 apr 01 apr 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar

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