The IDF will enter war footing to combat the current global enemy – the spreading coronavirus, a Channel 13 News report said on Tuesday. The IDF reportedly believes that the current crisis will last for several months at least and possibly up to a year.

Under Israeli law, if the government declares a state of emergency, the Defense Minister takes over as the head of the National Emergency Authority (NEMA) in the Defense Ministry and manages and coordinates all national authorities in responding to the emergency through the Home Front Command.

Defense Minister Naftali Bennett ordered the mobilization of 2,500 IDF reservists on Tuesday to help combat the coronavirus crisis, in addition to the 2,000 Home Front Command reservists that were mobilized on Sunday. Most IDF soldiers have been ordered to return to their bases for a month-long stay without leave.

The IDF will use its logistical capabilities and equipment to assist Israel’s medical system, set up hospitals and coordinate transfer of patients. If the Israeli population is placed in total lockdown, the IDF would help enforce governmental directives, such as curfews.

The Home Front Command is currently working in coordination with the Health Ministry and MDA in preparing “hotels” for coronavirus patients and transferring patients from hospitals. They are also being trained to carry out tests for the coronavirus.

פיקוד העורף ומשרד הביטחון פתחו את המלונית הראשונה לקליטת החולים: https://t.co/IiQ3RpjWmx pic.twitter.com/5Mjut6jO10

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 17, 2020

The IDF would also assist civil authorities if necessary in ensuring that the Israeli population has an adequate supply of basic supplies. Bennett convened the  Emergency Economy Division on Tuesday.

לראשונה מאז תחילת המשבר, כינסתי את ועדת המשק לשעת חירום בהשתתפות מנכ״לי משרדי הממשלה.

אנחנו חייבים להקדים את הקורונה.
האויב שלנו זה איטיות, בירוקרטיה וסחבת.
אמרתי למנכ"לי המשרדים: אני מצפה מכל אחד מכם לקחת אחריות ולקבל החלטות מהירות.

חשוב גם להרגיע אתכם, הציבור, ולומר: pic.twitter.com/Uox6LgVG6l

— Naftali Bennett נפתלי בנט (@naftalibennett) March 17, 2020

“I assembled the Emergency Economy  Committee for the first time since the beginning of the crisis, with the participation of the director-generals of the government ministries,” Bennett wrote on Twitter.

“The economy is not yet in a state of emergency. My goal is to prepare for all possibilities. We are in good standing in terms of national inventory and there is no need to storm the supermarkets. We’re preparing for every scenario and we’ll continue to do so. Together, with caution and cooperation, we’ll transverse the crisis.”

A special Israel Police task force is also being formed to enforce Health Ministry orders among Israel citizens, evacuate patients to hospitals and assist citizens in need of food and medication.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)