High alert: 85 terror warnings

Defense establishment declares highest state of alert: Police, IDF prepare to thwart terror attacks, escort high-ranking officials to polling stations; authorities contending with 14 concrete terror warnings, 22,000 police officers to be deployed across nation

Efrat Weiss|Published: 03.27.06 , 22:26

As Israelis prepare to cast their ballots Tuesday, police forces across the country have declared the highest state of alert, as the defense establishment is dealing with 85 terror warnings, 14 of them concrete.

Islamic Jihad is the prime culprit and intends to carry out attacks using the group's terror cells in the northern West Bank, officials said.

Security authorities have ordered a massive deployment that will start as early as 6 a.m. Tuesday, an hour before polling stations open. Police across the nation will move to an emergency deployment, with about 22,000 police and Border Guard officers to be sent to secure Israeli communities while reinforcing areas near the Green Line and the Jerusalem region.

Police forces will deploy several rings of security and set up roadblocks at the entrances to major cities. Overt and covert checkpoints will also be set up inside cities and security around polling stations will be boosted.

Meanwhile, security at malls and entertainment venues will be significantly reinforced, as masses are expected to use the day off for shopping. The IDF has already imposed a closure on Palestinian areas and will boost its operations on West Bank roads.

Police boosted their deployment on Sunday in light of the steep increase in the number of terror alerts and the high motivation by terror groups to carry out attacks on Election Day. However, the emergency deployment to be introduced Tuesday will continue to the end of the week.

Police to use new computer system

The Magen David Adom ambulance service has also raised its level of alert to one below the highest level and has remained in that state since the start of the week. Magen David Adom Director-General Eli Bin ordered additional 100 ambulances to be added to the 200 normally on service regularly. In total, 300 ambulances will be on standby in case of attacks.

Police will also accompany VIPs, headed by party leaders, to polling stations. Meanwhile, police are also preparing for the closing of stations and will accompany the ballot boxes out of the centers and to the Knesset.

Officers will also work to thwart attempts to forge ballots and create disturbances, and will for the first time make use of a new computer system that shows in real time the location of every police vehicle and officer.

Through Election Day, Police Chief Moshe Karadi will tour the country and monitor the police operations from up close.

At the same time, the Central Elections Committee has set up a special situation room that will also monitor the elections and assist in resolving problems should they arise at various polling stations.

At this time no exceptional problems are expected. Judge Dorit Beinish, Chairwoman of the Elections Committee, will be present at the situation room with four of her deputies throughout the day. The Committee will release the voter turnout rate every two hours.