Police in Israel's north held training Monday in which commanders simulated major riots involving both Arabs and Jews. Commanders hope to teach officers to respond to riots more quickly and effectively.
The training was held almost nine years after the October 2000 riots, in which violent protests were held in Arab communities throughout the country, and one year after the 2008 Akko riots. Training took place at the IDF's Tze'elim base in the Negev.
Officers were asked to respond to scenarios in which Arab Israelis rioted in response to government decisions, scenarios in which Jewish Israelis did the same, and scenarios in which the two communities clashed. Among the scenarios officers were asked to respond to was the possibility of riots over the planned construction of a city for the hareidi-religious community in Nachal Eeron, south of Haifa, known as Wadi Ara to the present predominantly Arab population.
Nearly all police units participated in the exercise, including the Yassam special forces and the Border Police. Units practiced dispersing protestors from major highways, dealing with large mobs, handling protesters who make use of deadly weapons, and responding to hostage scenarios.
Northern District Police Chief Shimon Koren expressed satisfaction following the drill. Northern district police are well prepared for all realistic scenarios, he said.