Region | Palestinian Territories
Israeli police on high alert as Bush gears up for Middle East visit
On the eve of the US President's visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, the Israeli police have declared a state of emergency within its forces.
- By Khalil Al Assali, Correspondent
- Published: 15:33 January 7, 2008
- US President George W. Bush is visiting the region to push for Middle East peace.
- Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
Occupied Jerusalem: On the eve of the US President's visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, the Israeli police have declared a state of emergency within its forces.
They have cancelled all leave, made students of police academies come out on the streets and have requested help from the civil guards.
"The Israeli police assigned more than 8,000 policemen and even a bigger number from other security bodies," said an official Israeli security statement.
This visit is seen as one of the most important visits of a president to Israel.
The prime minister's office was responsible for all the logistics of the visit and had established a Quick Intervention Unit which would coordinate between all the sides that are preparing for President Bush's visit. It would also inform the populace in occupied Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to be cautious and to stay away from places through which President Bush's entourage was supposed to pass because most places would be shut for many hours.
According to the chairman of the Israeli Municipality Bolinski, the people should be able to handle these difficult days.
According to the Israeli official broadcast, the Israeli prime minister's office was surprised when American officials requested Israelis to take into consideration that President Bush intended to visit a sacred Christian site near Lake Tiberius. The scriptures say Jesus Christ performed his miracles including feeding the poor with fish from that lake.
"Bush's visit is a religious and political one; I actually mean it when I put religious first because it is known that Bush is a religious person primarily and political in office", the known analyst Yaroun London told the Gulf News.
Officials from the prime minister's office said that American officials told the Israelis that this visit is a "working visit" and not an "official visit" so that the Israelis would not have to make super preparations and complicated security procedures during his visit to the Palestinian territories.
Comprehensive checks
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat did not agree to this.
"The President of the United States visits the Palestinian territories as a president and not as a guest and we were told that by the American side," Erekat told Gulf News.
Moreover, according to Palestinian officials, US security guards carried out a comprehensive survey of all the places that President Bush is scheduled to visit. They asserted to the Palestinian side that the security matters of Bush's visit to the Palestinian territories are absolutely US responsibility excluding the outer part which is the responsibility of the Palestinian security bodies.
Jericho City was preparing to greet President Bush as planned. However, a few days ago, the US administration cancelled Bush's visit to Jericho, Hisham's Palace, and the Belvedere Pool which is located on Jordan River and is considered a sacred place for Christians.
This visit was cancelled without giving any plausible reason.
Thus, all the preparations and arrangements were rendered useless and all the efforts were switched to Ramallah where President Bush intends to meet with the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Preparations: King David hotel spruced up
Occupied Jerusalem is getting ready for its high-profile visitor in years tomorrow. The King David Hotel has bought new furniture for the occasion. A source in the hotel said that a US security team has set up high-sensor devices. Starting tomorrow, the hotel will be closed for visitors and staff, including cooks, as a team from the US will serve Bush and his entourage which includes 400 people.
In Bethlehem, preparations to welcome the US President were complete, as a heavily-guarded area was established around Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity.
"The police force is in complete readiness to receive the US President. Ramallah and Bethlehem where Bush will be visiting are well protected. Cooperation between the Palestinian security forces and their US counterparts is also in effect," said Kamal Al Shaikh, Commander of the Palestinian Police force to Gulf News.
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