Afraid of Palestinian Intifada Israeli army tests readiness in drills
Mona Kandil
Press TV, Ramallah
The Israeli military has been preparing for a possible escalation of violence in the occupied West Bank amid fears that the Palestinians would lose their temper and a third Intifada, Arabic for uprising, could break out in the coming few months.
Top Israeli military officials have warned that Israel's economic sanctions on the Palestinian Authority, and withholding of tax revenues, could result in violent eruptions against Tel Aviv and that could be a possible reason for Israeli army holding a series of war games.
In recent weeks, the Israeli army has been holding extensive drills in the occupied West Bank, with thousands of army reservists called up to what marks the first drill of its kind in three years. The war games simulated the takeover of Palestinian towns, among other scenarios. The extensive drills involved all Israeli command levels, from battalions to the General Chief of Staff.
Palestinian experts meanwhile say that it’s not a political deadlock that might lead to an escalation, they say Israel has a constant intention to escalate the situation on the occupied Palestinian territories, and it is working toward this end through violence including arrest campaigns and storming of Palestinian-controlled cities.
Such remarks send a direct message to the Palestinian Authority, that nothing would stop the Israeli army to use excessive force in a bid to counter Palestinian resistance. Even if peaceful struggle proves fruitless, they will turn into uprising against the Israeli occupation.
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