The chief of the U.S. National Guard is observing Israel’s largest-ever civil defense exercise.
Lt.-Gen. H. Steven Blum, a guest of Israel’s Defense Ministry this week, has been watching civilian and military units taking part in an emergency drill designed to prepare the Jewish state for any future war with Syria or Iran, Ha’aretz reported Wednesday.
The newspaper quoted Blum as saying he would like to foster Israeli-U.S. cooperation in areas of home-front protection.
As chief of the National Guard Bureau in Arlington, Va., Blum is responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating policies, programs and plans affecting more than 500,000 U.S. Army and Air National Guard personnel.
