Hudna or no hudna, yesterday the security cabinet discussed possible “mega-terror attack” scenarios.

The director of the Anti-terrorism Headquarters, Danny Arditi, presented a staff paper prepared at the Prime Ministers Office which included preparations for a variety of large scale terror attack scenarios, in the wake of the September 11 terror attacks.

Among other things, a terror attack in which a passenger airplane crashes into a multi-story building, a suicide bombing on a train, a suicide bombing on a ship, and the explosion of a car bomb near a school or hospital were presented.

During the discussion, the question arose of whether a passenger airplane approaching Israel, known with certainty that it is about to crash in a populated area, or into a multi-story office building, should be shot down. The prime minister said that it is a difficult moral and operational dilemma. He also said that these are difficult scenarios which we must prepare for adequately. The preparation for the matter necessitates heavy investment and therefore we must determine a list of priorities,said Sharon.

Minister Effi Eitam proposed that a national authority for terror and rescue be established, which would be responsible for an emergency system in the case of a large scale terror attack, under which the MDA, the Home Front Command, and the fire-fighting services would operate.

At the conclusion of the discussion a decision was made regarding the responsibility of every government ministry in case of a mega-terror attack, and in addition, scenarios regarding possible terror attacks against Israeli targets all over the world were presented to the ministers by the Anti-terrorism Headquarters.

Itai Asher adds: Four Israelis were killed and 22 injured during terror attacks since the hudna went into effect about five and a half weeks ago.

According to IDF data, since the beginning of the hudna, there has been a significant decline in the number of incidents, as well as the number of victims on both sides, despite the fact that during the last 5 ½ weeks, there have been more than 200 terror attacks and attempted terror attacks against Israelis.

This piece ran on August 7, 2003 in Maariv

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