Security forces brace for rocket fire during Sharon's funeral
Police will deploy 3 layers of security protecting casket. Ceremony to begin at 9:30 am; entourage to make way to Anemone Hill in mid-afternoon. Representatives from around the world expected to attend
The request for an open ceremony came from Sharon's family.
Security representatives said Sunday that there will be 200 police officers securing the site and guiding traffic in and around Sharon's farm for the funeral procession.
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Military Police will be deployed near settlements around the Gaza Strip. They will direct those who want to pay their last respects to the organized buses from Kibbutz Dorot and Sapir College, which will make their way to Anemone Hill. The public will be permitted to enter the ranch, but no private cars will be allowed inside.
Israeli and American security detail has also been finalized in the event of a red alert indicating rocket fire from the Gaza Strip during the funeral.
Representatives from around the world will attend Sharon's funeral. Among the guests is US Vice President Joe Biden, who will lead the American delegation.
Joining him are Jewish public figures, including US Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, US Rep. Eliot Engel, US Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro and former ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer.
Other foreign guests to attend the service are Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Czech Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok, who will arrive with Czech Defense Minister Vlastimil Picek.
Other guests include Russian State Duma Chairman Sergey Naryshkin and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Other representatives to be present at the funeral are Holland's former prime minister, Spanish Home Affairs Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz, Greek Defense Minister Panos Panagiotopoulos and Cyprus Defense Minister Dimitris Iliadis.
Representatives from France, Romania, Italy and Belgium are also expected to attend the funeral. Scandinavian countries, however, did not send a single representative. In addition, the only country from Asia to send a representative is Singapore.
Apart from Europe and the United States, representatives from few other countries will be present at the services. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is to arrive, and Canada's Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Chris Alexander will also be present.
The rest of the world's countries did not send delegates. No representatives from Africa or from Latin America will be present, nor from the Arab world that celebrated the news of Sharon's death and called him a 'war criminal'.
Several roads leading to the capital are expected to be blocked on Monday, including highway 1 on several locations between 06:30-08:00 am. Starting from Sunday at midnight, Route 334 will also blocked on several locations, and will be reopened once the funeral services end. Several other locations on different highways will be closed on Monday to allow the funeral procession to pass, including parts of Highway 3, Highway 6, Highway 40, and Route 293.
The funeral ceremony will begin at 9:30 am, and the military entourage with Sharon's casket will make its way towards Anemone Hill starting at 2 pm.
On the way to Sharon's final resting place, the hearse will stop at Latrun, where there will be a special assembly of high-ranking officials in the IDF 's general staff.
At 2 pm a military burial ceremony will take place, and only a handful of family members and close friends of Sharon will be allowed to be at the graveside.
Southern District Police chief, Major General Yoram Halevy, arrived at Anemone Hill on Monday and said the police will deploy in three circular layers of protection.
The first layer, closest to the grave, will be isolated and closed off to the public. The second police barrier on the slope of the hilltop will be open to the public, and the funeral ceremony will be broadcast for the crowd on four projectors. Halevy added that the IDF will provide any additional security needed.
Yoav Zitun and Matan Tzuri contributed to this report
