IDF conducts advanced training on riots

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has conducted a special advanced training, aimed to counter riots, following the recent violent agitations in Judea and Samaria.

During the drill, the commanders and battalion commanders of the Central Command comprising regular and reserve officers, performed leadership of the command.

Conducted at the Central Command’s Lachish Training Base, the manoeuvres also included a simulated riot to which the commanders responded.

Binyamin Regional brigade commander colonel Yossi Pinto said that the new challenges for the personnel during the drill are for understanding and operational expertise as well as the formation of a shared language among various bodies in responding to incidents.

The Judea and Samaria Division commander brigadier general Hagai Mordechai said, "Consequently, we prepared a series of advanced training sessions, including the training session that we’re holding today."

"Our emphasis is to operate precisely, selectively, professionally, with significant restraint, with an understanding that that’s the right thing both ethically – in line, of course, with the values of the IDF – and in terms of the stability of the security situation," Mordechai added.

Haruv Battalion commander lieutenant colonel Yoav Shukrun said one of the training session’s primarly aimed to establish cooperation between various bodies such as the IDF, Border Police, Israel Police and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), in order "to show the company commander and the battalion commander the synergy of this work."