'IDF has no way of stopping mass non-violent protest in West Bank'
IDF conducts drills in preparation for potential uprising in wake of Palestinian bid to seek UN recognition in September.
By Anshel Pfeffer Tags: West Bank Palestinians Palestinian stateAs September draws nearer, the Israel Defense Forces has been conducting drills in order to contend with the possibility of a mass civilian uprising in the West Bank in the wake of the Palestinian bid to seek unilateral recognition in the United Nations.
"A non-violent protest of 4,000 people or more, even if they only march to a checkpoint or a settlement, and especially if the Palestinian police does not deter them, will be unstoppable," one IDF officer claims. "Such a great number of determined people cannot be stopped by tear gas and rubber bullets."
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A West Bank checkpoint near Nablus |
| Photo by: Daniel Bar-On |
Another high ranking IDF official serving in the territories claimed that "if we are to face protests similar to those in Egypt or Tunisia, we will not be able to do a thing."
On Tuesday, the Central Command completed its General Staff workshop which included all company officers and higher-ranking officials in both regular and reserve service who are set to serve in the West Bank by the end of the year. The officers attended lectures on dealing effectively with disorderly conduct and viewed presentations on protest-dispersal methods by both IDF and border police.
"At the end of the day, the decision is in the hands of the political echelon," claims another commander, "it is fairly obvious that if there will be no progress on peace talks, the Palestinian police with whom we work very closely to prevent infiltrations will lose their patience."
Central Command officials said Tuesday that "the IDF does have ways of dealing with large-scale protests. First of all, we have intelligence, and obviously these protests take quite a while to organize. With intelligence and the proper preparation, it is possible to gather large forces against the protests in a way that will cause minimal damage."
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The best way to deal with protests by unarmed civilians is through civilian casualties. This should work well, since there are no external forces to defend those civilians. It's not like Libya, you know.
The best way to deal with protests by unarmed civilians is through civilian casualties. This should work well, since there are no external forces to defend those civilians. It's not like Libya, you know.
The army has a steady track record of achieving deterrence through deadly violence, as when they made the decision to gun down unarmed peace militants in international waters, or only a few weeks ago when they shot people across the border. Tear gas and rubber bullets indeed...
The sign is in Hebrew and English. Arabic speaking Palestinians are non-persons.
The sign is in Hebrew and English. Arabic speaking Palestinians are non-persons.
The best way to deal with protests by unarmed civilians is through civilian casualties. This should work well, since there are no external forces to defend those civilians. It's not like Libya, you know.
Oh so true. Freedom from the rule of a brutal dictator. Freedom from the rule of a brutal occupier. When the numbers come out freedom will not be denied. The Palestinians, one way or another, will shuck off the yoke of the brutal occupier.
non violent protests...I have a feeling it scares the army and the shin bet more than any violence
non violent protests...I have a feeling it scares the army and the shin bet more than any violence
May be we need another IDF? The army must defend us and not talk story about Egypt and Tunis.
As long as the protesters stay away from Jews, what they do on their own territory they can do. If they pysically threaten Jews including settlements and check points. Deadly force may be necessary. Israeli Jews should be armed.
extreme force is failing also, as witness Syria. Israel should hasten the recognition of the Palestinian state, and then let them protest against their leadership. Bibi should stop stonewalling and take the initiative. we don't have to police the palestinians, they have to learn to do it themselves or turn into another libya.