IDF to practice securing highways from rioting in potential war

The Israel Defense Forces will perform a drill on securing the country’s highways amid a simulated war to ensure military convoys can travel safely, The Times of Israel has learned, following warnings of a repeat of ethnic violence that erupted nationwide during last year’s Gaza war.

Military officials have warned that rioting could impede convoys heading toward the frontier and fear such a scenario in a potential conflict.

The outgoing chief of the Technological and Logistics Directorate said in November he was “really concerned” that rioting in Arab and ethnically mixed communities similar to last May has “significant potential to delay the ability to maneuver IDF troops.”

“[We] have learned and drawn conclusions from the past year from Operation Guardian of the Walls, which are now reflected in the exercise,” says Maj. Gen. Uri Gordon, head of the IDF Homefront Command.