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Protecting Israeli Communities

(Israel Defense Forces) - A pilot project initiated by the IDF to improve the security of communities in the Central Command area, which includes Judea and Samaria, is currently in an advanced implementation stage. Local residents in 11 communities are being specially trained to guard and protect their own communities. "This is a specially picked and highly trained response team that will deal with any threat outside of, or infiltrating into the community," said Major Reuven, commander of the Community Defense Branch. "It became necessary to draw conclusions from past experience...[and] build a force that could handle the threat of a hostile terrorist infiltrating into the community." Force members sign a special contract with the Ministry of Defense and they are on active reserve duty. The advantage of this force is that they have an intimate knowledge of their own community. They are always present and do not leave the community after a defined period of service, as do reservists and regular IDF forces. These forces will replace soldiers currently assigned to guard duty inside the communities. Oshrat, a 21-year-old woman soldier, was noted for her dedication to training and for her self-motivation. "I served my compulsory military service as a commander of a men's squad," she said, adding, "I was recently discharged and what attracted me to this job is my desire to help....I get to stay close to my mother and protect her as well."
2002-08-23 00:00:00
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