Security forces’ September weapons
Alex Fishman, YNET
The Defense Ministry has invested more than NIS 75 million (roughly $22 million) in purchasing non-lethal weapons to disperse mass protests in preparation for possible September riots.
The Ministry is gearing up for possible riots in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and inside Israel following the Palestinian plan to seek UN membership. Defense Ministry Director-General Udi Shani ordered the allocation of funds from the ministry’s budget as well as from foreign aid for the purchase of sophisticated crowd dispersal means.
Last May the IDF lacked appropriate means to prevent the infiltration of Palestinians from Syria and Lebanon during the “Nakba” and “Naksa” day events forcing the troops to use live ammunition. The IDF was criticized for causing injury to non-armed individuals.
The Defense Ministry purchased gas grenades, “Federal” rifles mounted on vehicles and water tanks that can carry 2,500 liters to be installed on vehicles. The police and the IDF will have at least 17 vehicles with water spraying systems at their disposal by September.
The Ministry also purchased a small amount of electroshock taser guns to be used against protestors standing close to security forces, as well as a large amount of gas grenades, helmets and protective gear.
But the “star” acquisition is “the skunk” – a strong-scented substance which causes nausea and vomiting. The IDF will spray the substance from the ground or from the air in clashes with rioters. The Defense Ministry purchased massive amounts of “the skunk” which is manufactured in Israel. A senior security official described the acquisitions as a “dramatic step up in the security forces preparedness.”
Golan fence to be set up
The army examined other possibilities such as purchasing a US-made microwave system that can paralyze anyone coming 100 meters from it. Israel did not acquire the system and the Americans themselves do not use it due to opposition from environmental and human rights groups.
IDF and police forces have already began training with the new weapons. The Defense Ministry has also invested NIS 50 million in the construction of a 12-km fence in the Golan Heights.
Security officials estimated the most likely scenario in September will be riots and protests across the West Bank including the blocking of roads and hurling of stones.
The protests might also extend beyond the Green Line, and on Israel’s borders with Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and the Gaza Strip. They also estimated that the general mood may prompt “popular terror acts” like firing on roads and junctions.
The government is also preparing for the possibility of marches towards settlements and riots in the style of Bilin and Naalin.
the skunk should arry the pungent odor of swine. it will then serve doubly well.
It isn’t journalistically true until there are two independent sources.
Report: Israeli Jet Fighters in Qatar
Israeli-Qatari relations warming up? Hizbullah television says IAF fighter jets landed in Qatar.
by Elad Benari, Canada
Published: 29/07/11, 11:31 PM / Last Update: 30/07/11, 2:08 AM
Fighter jets belonging to the Israeli Air Force landed last weekend in military bases in Qatar, Hizbullah’s Al Manar television network reported on Friday.????????
The report, which was attributed to “informed sources,” has not been confirmed elsewhere. According to Al Manar, the sources pointed out that this is “a most dangerous development and one which was planned in advance between Qatar and Israel and the United States.”
The Lebanese news network claimed that Qatar and Israel have had close military coordination for a long time and added that “officials from both countries hold meetings to promote relations between the two countries in many fields, be it politically, militarily, or economically.”
Despite being an Arab country, Qatar has tried to brand itself as a peaceful neutral world power.
The US Microwave System is probably one that can be vehicle mounted and induces skin surface heating, not paralysis as reported above. Think energy projected as from a very powerful microwave oven. It very convincingly can induce pain to discourage individuals from approaching. This can be a very potent capability to protect an area from being overrun.
Environmental concerns should be minimal, as far any widespread damage to the environment. But it can induce burns and possibly blindness with longer exposures. The system is designed to persuade individuals to retreat or move out of the energy beam. However, individuals determined to be martyrs or create negative publicity can remain or advance. The fallout of blinded and burned “peaceful” demonstrators would not be good Human Rights PR, even if caused deliberately by the actions of the demonstrators.
Also, ‘non-combatants’, including children and women within a ‘mob’ action, may not be able to move out of the energy beam, or even know which direction to move. It could be a protestor manufactured injury disaster that would be a public relations nightmare for Israel.
I hope the other non-permanent damage persuasion systems and techniques are adequate.
Love that “Skunk”. Let’s hope they use it liberally and often. Low frequency canons are also a good idea for dispersing mobs. Shipping them off to Arab countries, however, is a permanent solution.