Israel preps for Obama’s first visit with operation ‘Unbreakable Alliance’

Israel is preparing to go down into near-lockdown mode, with a security mission dubbed “Unbreakable Alliance” for President Obama’s upcoming visit.

Air Force One lands at Ben Gurion Airport on March 20, and for that 48 hours, Israel will be on a high state of alert, The Times of Israel reports. Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino met with his entire force on Sunday to go over security protocol.

“It is an operation on a national scale,” he told The Times of Israel.

Unbreakable Alliance will coordinate the movements of hundreds of police around the airport, as well as helicopter security flights, The Times of Israel reports.

The president’s visit to Israel — his first, ever — will kick off with a greeting on the tarmac with Israel’s president, prime minister, Cabinet, defense officials and other high-ranking dignitaries. The president will then board 12 Blackhawk helicopters to fly to Jerusalem. Mr. Obama’s land travels will be marked by dozens of security vehicles, ambulances and special force police cars.

“This is a huge security operation, in which thousands of police officers, Shin Bet agents and U.S. Secret Service agents will be participating,” a senior police officer said to Maariv news. “Success, as far as we’re concerned, means zero mistakes.”

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