Hebrew media sources said on Friday that the tension between Israel on one hand and Jordan and the Palestinian Authority (PA) on the other because of the latest escalation at al-Aqsa Mosque will not be an obstacle for the three countries to participate in a large-scale exercise sponsored by the European Union.
According to Israel Hayom newspaper the Middle East Forest Fire exercise (MEFF) is set to take place from 22nd to 26th October in Jordan and Israel and will include rescue forces from Italy France Spain and Croatia.
The first-of-its-kind exercise will test the capacity of all sides to cooperate in major rescue operations including firefighting rescues from collapsed buildings and other emergency situations.
The planning stage of the exercise will take place in Jordan before the actual training begins in Israel according to the paper.
A forest fire training scenario in the Carmel area in northern Israel similar to the one that killed 44 Israelis in 2010 will be included in the exercise program.
In the central city of Lod forces will be trained to rescue people from a building that collapses after a gas explosion.
Jordan will send two helicopters 60 rescuers 40 fire engines and 15 medical teams while the PA will send two firefighting planes a command plane and transport planes as well as 15 rescuers and 40 fire engines.
Each of France Italy Spain and Croatia will send medical and rescue teams and firefighting planes.
Israeli civilian rescuers and military teams from the Home Front Command will take part in the exercise.
