Israel Prepares for Planned Palestinian Protests
- Posted on August 11, 2011 at 8:36pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
- Print »
- Email »
JERUSALEM (The Blaze/AP) — Israeli police and army are importing horses, water cannons, tear gas launchers and a nauseating noise machine to avoid casualties among Palestinians during planned protests in the West Bank during a bid for U.N. endorsement of Palestinian statehood next month, officials said Thursday.
Palestinians are planning mass demonstrations across the West Bank and abroad to coincide with the September U.N. General Assembly session, which the Palestinians hope will give official endorsement for their state. The statehood initiative reflects frustration with long stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.
Palestinian have their own plans to keep the protests peaceful and avoid confrontations with Israelis, but local history has shown that events can quickly spiral out of control.
Israel fears that a single incident — a Palestinian killing an Israeli with a firebomb or gunshot, or an Israeli soldier killing a Palestinian during a riot — could trigger a flood of violence.
Israel is doing all it can to prevent fatalities from its side, according to Israeli officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
According to an internal police newsletter obtained by The Associated Press, police have doubled the size of their riot control forces to more than 2,000.
“The police hope to avoid casualties in the event of (U.N. endorsement of) Palestinian independence,” wrote the author of the newsletter, Nissim Mor, commander of the police operations branch.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said preparations have been under way for several weeks, stressing non-lethal methods the police are used to employing.
“The Israeli police are prepared to deal with … widespread demonstrations and marches throughout the country,” he said.
A section of southern Israel has been turned into a “September training camp,” the officials said.
The venue offers facilities and training for soldiers in handling violent scenarios without causing fatalities that would unleash a barrage of criticism against Israel and supply the Palestinians with another rallying cry.
The officials also told the AP that Israeli security is working with top Palestinian commanders to coordinate activities aimed at avoiding casualties. Palestinian officials would not comment on that.
The police newsletter called the preparations “Seeds of Summer,” spelling out the equipment police are planning to use if confronted with rioting Palestinians.
The newsletter also described a new crowd control device, a machine that generates sound waves that cause nausea.
Police have ordered such a machine, called “the scream,” the newsletter said, adding that they are also acquiring “the skunk” — a device that sprays a foul-smelling fluid to subdue unruly crowds.
Also, 15 horses arrived this week from Belgium and two water cannons are on order, in addition to several already available, it said.
Israel has supplies of tear gas grenades and launchers and is ordering more, military officials said. Soldiers have used rubber-coated steel bullets in past confrontations, though those have killed some Palestinians.
In a move that might increase tensions, Israel’s Interior Ministry on Thursday gave approval for the construction of 1,600 apartments in Israeli neighborhoods in east Jerusalem, with another 2,700 nearing approval.
Palestinians claim east Jerusalem for their capital and object to any Israeli construction there. The projects routinely bring a wave of international criticism at every stage in the lengthy approval process. Several additional procedural steps lie ahead for the apartments approved Thursday, and actual construction would be years away.
Comments (23)
Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 697 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 530 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 356 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 355 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 347 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 347 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 356 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 270 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 148 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 347 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
LOJ
Posted on August 18, 2011 at 1:51pmI am looking for information on Joe Wilson, Was he advised not to go to Glen’s Israel Tour by Speaker Boehner?
Report Post »mikee1
Posted on August 14, 2011 at 10:03amIsrael, KILL THEM.
Report Post »airportengineer
Posted on August 13, 2011 at 2:03pmThey are planning demonstrations here in the U.S. for September 15th!! Prepare! The liberal nuts will do everything under the name of “protest”. They have no morals or respect for others and the laws of the land.
Report Post »AmericanFreedom1776
Posted on August 13, 2011 at 2:25amI don’t think that the skunk machine is going to work on Palestinians. They are use to their own smell. Much worse than any skunk machine the Israelis can come up with.
Report Post »B4REALITY
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 10:53pmDoes Barak Obama realize that the American people stand with ISRAEL? This guy (and the fools with him) is running on fumes to the 2012 election as it is.
Report Post »fcbs46
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:32pmIf a man beats you to the ground, after you attack him and you get up and attack him again and again again. Just maybe it’s time you apologize and sue for peace instead of telling him you going to (not just kill him) wipe him off the face of the earth. It might even be better if you develop your own economy and stop being a slave fighter for others. The kids when brought together (outside of the area) have more empathy and brain waves with each other then the damn adults. I have heard of the stubbornest of the Jewish people all of my 65 years but the Arabs (Palestine) make them look like the most flexible people ever created.
Report Post »fcbs46
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:14pmWhen a man beats you to the ground perhaps you should not git up and tell him going to attack him again,and again and again. Maybe you should apologize and make peace it just could be the better plan. I have heard of the stubbornest of the Jewish people all of my 65 years but the east bank Arabs beat any conceived idea of stubbornest.
Report Post »R2
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 1:21pmI say if they start with Israel then let them finish it for good this time. Israel is always told to hold back because these animals hid in schools and hospitals, I say hit them where they are some will die yes but that is THEIR fault.
Maybe if the blue helmets actually did something to help Israel then maybe it would never come to this.
Report Post »NOTALOTTAYITTAYADDA
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:51pmOdd how the smolder won’t cover the protest the Hebrew people??
Report Post »AlansTigg
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 12:06pmimporting horses, water cannons, tear gas launchers and a nauseating noise machine to avoid casualties…..
I don’t get the horses…they can be quite lethal ya know
Report Post »dscon
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 3:37pmhorse hurt alot when they step on ones foot!
i hope that is the only reason why they have horses!
Report Post »SnowKalBebes
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 11:07amWhy isn’t Glenn reporting on the Israeli people protesting the widening gap in wealth between the Israeli poor and the Israeli rich. Does he stand with the Israeli people or the Israeli government? What is his agenda? Come on sheeple do your own thinking and research
Report Post »Trance
Posted on August 13, 2011 at 12:09pmActually, he has been talking about it on his radio show…
Report Post »Seede
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 10:12amThese youngsters must be on spring break. Nothing to do except throw rocks at a tanks and guys with guns. My mamma taught be better than that. Can’t understand why these kids are not in their Arab/Muslim schools learning about their butcher god Muhammad or how he’s going to get out of that well. A better use for these retards would be to give them a shovel and some turnip seeds to plant. Can’t go wrong with turnips.
Report Post »nysparkie
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 10:09amThey throw stones, you throw grenades. They shoot rockets, you bomb the holy c r a p out of them. Man, Women and Child. When there is no one else to throw a stone. Fight is over. Simple.
ROSE_ELLEN” You agree with this don’t you?
Report Post »Seede
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 10:23amYeh ! I forgot about ole Rosie – Thanks for reminding me of the ole gal.
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:47amBe prepare to defend our friends. This is where the world begins the inch by inch assault on Israel. The Palestinian savages have a sypathetic ear in the White House with barack.
Report Post »fastfwd
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 3:13amTo hell with the so called Palestine’s ! They are nothing less than Muslim terrorists !
Report Post »Armed Patriot
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 7:53amThere is no such thing as a Palestinian homeland. It is all in Israeli land given to the children of Abraham in the Abrahamic Covenant.
Why should the Philistines be granted nation status when they are already a welfare state, depending on the charity and handouts of others to survive???
Report Post »Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 3:08amI hope Israel doesn‘t worry more about the Arabs than the Israeli’s. Let the Arabs get what’s coming to them. No decent person wants to see a Palestinian state.
Report Post »Sickofstupid
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 1:09amGet healthy. Get armed. Get prepared. The unavoidable is near.
Report Post »Chr1st14n
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 12:46amPalestine… the abomination that makes desolate
Report Post »davecoolworld
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 12:55amThe name palestine is completely made up. There is no such thing as a palestinian.
Report Post »