IDF to hold tsunami response drill after unusual earthquakes in Greece
This comes after unusual earthquakes off the coast of Santorini made security officials concerned that a tsunami would strike Israel.
A tsunami response drill will take place Wednesday morning, in the area of Rishon Lezion, the IDF announced Tuesday night.
The purpose of the drill is to test the level of municipal preparedness and operational response to a similar emergency.
As part of the drill, a siren will sound in the western Rishon Lezion area at 10:15 AM, to simulate a tsunami warning.
Additionally, an increase in the movement of security forces will be noticeable along the coastline.
This is a pre-planned drill, the IDF stressed, and there is no concern of a security event.
The announcement comes three months after unusual earthquakes off the coast of Santorini, Greece. The quakes could have potentially created a larger earthquake that would have affected Israel.
"Emergency bodies and government offices are required to prepare for the possibility that the State of Israel may encounter a tsunami wave approaching it," a summary from the National Security Council stated, as reported by N12 news site.
Even still, experts say that Israelis would have abundant warning time in the event of a tsunami wave in the Mediterranean Sea.
"We in Israel need to be alert, but there is no need to worry excessively," Dr. Ariel Haiman, a geologist and senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, told N12.
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Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
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Politico
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Boston Globe
12 hours ago
- Boston Globe
US imposes sanctions on a Palestinian NGO and other charities, accusing them ties to militant groups
The federal government claims that Addameer 'has long supported and is affiliated' with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a secular, left-wing movement with a political party and an armed wing that has carried out deadly attacks against Israelis. Israel and the United States have labeled the PFLP a terrorist organization. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Addameer did not immediately have a comment on the sanctions. Advertisement Israel has alleged that Addameer funds terrorism, a claim that the United Nations previously said it could not support with compelling evidence. In a 2022 The organization also works with Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and is a member of the World Organization Against Torture. Israel's 2022 storming of Addameer's offices, prompted a rebuke from the UN, who said in a statement that Israel had not provided convincing evidence to support the claim. The UN said Addameer was conducting 'critical human rights, humanitarian and development work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.' Advertisement In February, Zachor Legal Institute, an Israeli-American advocacy group that says it focuses on combatting antisemitism and terrorism, requested Addameer be added to Treasury's sanctions list. Marc Greendorfer, president of Zachor Legal Institute said in an email to the Associated Press that his group is 'very pleased to see Treasury following up on our request.' He said the federal government should act 'to prevent hostile foreign actors from spreading hate and violence in the United States. We applaud Treasury's action and encourage Treasury to expand its focus to the other groups that we identified.' Other entities hit with sanctions Tuesday include: The Gaza-based charity Al Weam Charitable Society and its leader The Turkish charity Filistin Vakfi and its leader El Baraka Association for Charitable and Humanitarian Work and its leader The Netherlands-based Israa Charitable Foundation Netherlands and two employees The Italy-based Associazione Benefica La Cupola d'Oro A Because the majority of crowdfunding activity is legitimate, 'this status can make it more difficult for law enforcement attempting to investigate potential (terrorist financing) cases with a crowdfunding and online fundraising nexus,' the report said. Frankel reported from Jerusalem.
