In an exercise conducted at the beginning of the week, the Menashe Brigade based in the Jenin region simulated a scenario where numerous terrorists infiltrate Jewish communities using vehicles and on foot. As part of the simulation, terrorists also penetrated the separation barrier and moved towards the Gilboa, Wadi Ara, and Nitsani Oz regions, as well as other areas. The forces also simulated incidents of kidnapping and murders, as well as where the terrorists took control over Jewish neighborhoods and more.
However, contrary to Cabinet instructions six weeks ago that the IDF should be prepared for Palestinian Authority security forces to turn their weapons against Israel, the exercise assumed that Palestinian Authority forces would collaborate with the IDF to stop the attack.
According to the description of the exercise, it was assumed that while murders and kidnappings are taking place, the Palestinian Authority security forces ask to send dozens of armed officers near the border fence. In the exercise, the IDF forces approved the request. The armed PA forces are sent in a group of 30 men to the border fence and are wearing civilian clothes.
In addition, as part of the exercise the IDF's Civil Administration is forced to deal with the rescue of an Arab child from a well in an Arab village during the attack. This latter example highlights the conception among the security establishment which remains preoccupied with civilian matters during the massacre referred to as a “Second Simchat Torah” in the description.
The exercise also expects mosques in Jenin to send out calls in support of the murders and kidnappings, while sweets are passed out in the streets.
Despite this, during the exercise IDF the Fatah forces are expected to prevent additional civilians from crossing the border and cooperate with the IDF. This is despite the fact that Fatah members have already taken part in numerous attacks of late.
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For example, the Fatah Representative of the Jenin region, Ata Abu Ramila, was arrested one month ago for terror activity and incitement against Israel.
The IDF's presumption that Abu Ramila's successor and soldiers under his command will stop masses of Arabs from taking part in the massacre and infiltration shows that the security establishment remains trapped in its previous conceptions.
Even the night before the exercise, an officer of the Palestinian Authority security forces was killed in the village of Tubas during fighting with the IDF. In recent months, dozens of Fatah members have carried out attacks and shootings including during confrontations with the IDF.
Military officials who spoke to Hakol HaYehudi on condition of anonymity expressed serious concerns that the conception among the establishment has not changed.
Notably, the exercise contradicts a previous instruction by the Security Cabinet that the IDF should be prepared for PA forces to turn their weapons against Israel.
This incident is part of the conception among heads of the security establishment which fails to recognize that Fatah and the Palestinian Authority have taken an active role in fighting against the IDF for the past several years. There has also been a notable uptick in attacks by PA affiliates since the outbreak of the war in Gaza. Most shockingly, during the exercise, the Tanzim forces of the Fatah Party supposedly partner with the IDF to stop the attack, when in reality on the ground, the Tanzim forces have been fighting against Israel.
