BICOM

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have started preparing for possible scenarios with the Palestinians following the UN vote to recognise a Palestinian state, which is set to take place in September. One scenario the IDF is preparing for is a possible engagement with the Syrian military in September, should the latter involve itself in new attempts by Palestinians in Syria to storm the border on the Golan Heights in connection with the UN vote on recognising a Palestinian state. Until now, the IDF assessment had been that Syrian President Bashar Assad was interested in maintaining quiet along the border.

IDF drills took place yesterday in the West Bank around Jerusalem and Ramallah, where it is expected there could be protests. According to IDF officers, tanks will not be used in any of the operations in the West Bank. “Now there are no large terror cells in the field or weapons that require tanks to deal with them,” a senior IDF officer said. In addition, the army added to its officers’ course a module on dealing with mass civilian disturbances that includes training in riot dispersal techniques and mental preparation.

In related news, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met for four hours with his senior cabinet yesterday to discuss diplomatic plans to deal with the Palestinian September vote. Several ministers called for preemptive sanctions to be placed on the Palestinian Authority in an effort to make President Mahmoud Abbas back down on the vote. However, Defence Minister Ehud Barak objected to this plan saying that it could potentially cause the PA to collapse creating greater instability.