Israel's military drill amounts to belligerence

Israel's decision to hold a nationwide military drill this week that simulates chemical and other attacks has sounded alarm bells.

While the Israeli army's spokesman says the exercise, which began yesterday, is not in response to any current event, some are suspicious about the timing and the nature of the drill itself. In this exercise, the state of Israel is "under attack" from Syria, Lebanon and Gaza.

Exactly what message is Tel Aviv sending its neighbours? Instead of encouraging peaceful relations, which Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has claimed is his objective, the Jewish state is making it clear that it operates on its own, by its own, and everyone is a potential enemy - a highly dangerous and charged message.

This is Israel's largest emergency drill ever and it comes courtesy of the recently-established National Emergency Authority, called "Rachel". It includes a nationwide siren and people from all walks of life, including schoolchildren, are required to participate.

It leads to an important point: by imposing this drill, the Israeli government is instilling into its youth the fear of being attacked. It will undoubtedly have psychological repercussions which will carry over to adulthood.

So even though the international community, led by the United States, aims to establish a long-lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, the next generation of Israelis could grow up automatically thinking Syrians, Lebanese and Palestinians are enemies.

The drill could also escalate already heightened tensions. Syria and Lebanon are reportedly on high alert and are readied for an all-out confrontation with Israel.

Israel's current attitude is not healthy as it bombs Gaza regularly and kills innocent civilians, and carries out military drills involving all its citizens and keeps its neighbours on high alert. It is time Israel started investing more time (and money) on peaceful initiatives.