Israel will launch the most extensive nationwide drill next Sunday, local news service Ynet reported Monday.
The "Turning Point 3" exercise, which will last five days, will be launched with a "battle in Gaza," spreading into a "war" in northern Israel, said the report, adding that Israel Defense Forces(IDF) will practice a scenario of uprising and rioting by Israeli Arabs, Xinhua reported.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempted to convey a calming message to Israel's neighboring countries during Sunday's cabinet meeting, saying that "this is a routine drill, which was planned several months ago and is held every year in order to coordinate between civil and military systems."
The drill, to be operated by Israeli Defense Ministry with the assistance of the National Emergency Authority, is aimed at training the Israeli home front, from the government level down to the plain citizen level, and will simulate a comprehensive regional war, said Ynet.
According to the scenario, the war will involve Hamas, Hezbollah and Syria. Palestinians will carry out attacks, and Israeli Arabs will riot in masses.
Israel's Political-Security Cabinet will practice the various scenarios, while the IDF will mobilize forces in accordance with the occurrences.
The proposed scenario simulates an escalation lasting three months, reaching its peak with an overall attack on Israel, according to the report.
The outline of the drill has been presented to the government ministers. The overall war scenario begins with an escalation on the Gaza front, which leads to an IDF ground offensive.
After 60 days of fighting in Gaza, tensions in northern Israel heat up. The IDF is forced to enlist reserve forces and launches a war on the northern front.
During the war, the Israeli home front will be hit by barrages of missiles. Simultaneously, a terror offensive will develop and extensive riots will take place across the country.
The drill will kick off next Sunday with an exercise to the ministers at the weekly cabinet meeting. Next Monday (June 1) the IDF, Home Front Command, Israel Police, government ministries and local authorities will take part in the drill.
Next Tuesday, or June 2, an air raid siren will be sounded across the country, roads will be blocked and citizens and school students will practice entering bomb shelters.
Israel's Political-Security Cabinet and national information system will take part in the drill on June 3. On June 4, the last day of the drill, IDF will hold field exercises and the training of the Home Front Command headquarters will continue.
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