According to Major General Tamir Yadi who is the commanding officer for the IDF’s Homefront Command, the Covid-19 Coronavirus will be plaguing Israel for the next year and therefore it is inappropriate to be discussing an “exit strategy”, but rather “the country needs to plan for and discuss how to strategically cope with the new reality that the virus will be sticking around. We need to get the vital industries that make up the heart of the economy working again, and we will present the political echelon with how we will be assisting this effort with help where and when it is needed of us.”

Tamir made the statements in a press briefing that was held on Monday.

Thus far, the IDF has not called up reservists from the Home Front Command to participate in their efforts against the Coronavirus. Therefore, they have required additional battalions from the regular army to assist in the efforts. The Home Front Command has 4 battalions, 2 of them are being utilized for military operations and the other two are already being utilized to provide assistance to the public.

“Jerusalem and Bnei Brak have been marked red (areas with a high infection rate). There are another 10 cities and towns that have been identified as such. We are trying to keep the list as small as possible. We are preparing to provide additional assistance to Jerusalem due to the new regulations that are being applied there. The Regional Home Front Command services have been tasked with the mission to work together with the local leadership and the Health Ministry to lower the rate of infection in the city. Jerusalem has a strong city government that is effective and we are working closely with them in order to provide all of the necessary services to its inhabitants. Gadsar units from the Nachal Brigade as well as the Search and Rescue Brigade are carrying out operations to deliver food to the populations who need it, mainly those who live on their own or are in family quarantines.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)