“Operation Blue Defender 3” focuses on Ben Gurion Airport, Jerusalem and the main highways leading to the capital • Traffic disruptions expected in central Israel due to the visit.
Edited by: TJVNews.com
The Israel Police announced on Sunday the completion of its preparations ahead of Wednesday’s visit to Israel by President Joe Biden, as was reported by JNS.
As part of its preparations for securing the visit, an operation dubbed “Blue Defender 3,” the police held a special drill simulating an accompaniment and securing of the presidential vehicle convoy.
“During the days of the visit, more than 16,000 police officers, Border Police officers and volunteers will be deployed … for security and to safeguard public order, as well as directing traffic during the state visit,” police said in a statement, according to the JNS report.
Biden is due to fly on to Saudi Arabia from Israel on Friday.
Police described the security operation as complex and involving multiple security organizations. It will focus on Ben-Gurion International Airport, Jerusalem and the main highways leading to the capital, according to the statement.
JNS also reported that specialized command posts will be in operation to allow effective command and control of the security operations, police added.
Disruption to traffic is expected between Wednesday and Friday in central Israel, on roads leading to Jerusalem and throughout Jerusalem itself. JNS reported that changes in traffic routes will occur in the capital for limited periods, according to police.
World Israel News reported on Monday that Palestinians are calling for a protest in Ramallah on Thursday to express “rejection of U.S. President Joe Biden’s humiliating policies towards the Palestinian issue” and Washington’s “blatant bias” in favor of Israel, the Jerusalem Post reported on Monday.
According to the Post, the protest will be held in Ramallah’s Manara Square the same day as Biden arrives in the Palestinian city, as was reported by WIN.
The Fatah officials told the paper that Palestinians have no expectations of any significant developments stemming from Biden’s visits to Ramallah and Bethlehem. Washington’s efforts to establish an alliance against Tehran are expected to dominate the President’s agenda, according to the WIN report.
“The Palestinian issue is not at the top of Biden’s agenda,” the official told the Post. “Ignoring the Palestinian issue will only increase tensions and undermine security and stability in the region.”
WIN also reported that the Palestinians say Biden has not delivered on promises to reopen the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem, taken what they consider firm action against Israeli settlement construction.
“We are fed up with empty promises,” the official told the Post. “If the Americans continue to ignore our demands, the situation will further deteriorate. We want the Palestinian cause to return to the center of the world’s attention.”
A poster published by various Palestinian activists on social media slammed the U.S. as the “head of the snake” and said that “America does not liberate people, but only enslaves them,” the Post also added, as was reported by WIN.
Israel is concerned about terror disrupting the presidential visit.
Biden arrives in Israel on Wednesday.
(Sources: JNs.org & WorldIsraelNews.com)
