Israel has held a rapid-response drill to gauge abilities of its armed forces as the Israeli ruling class is afraid the outcome of the Egyptian revolution affects Tel Aviv.

Israel has held a rapid-response drill to gauge abilities of its armed forces as the Israeli ruling class is afraid the outcome of the Egyptian revolution affects Tel Aviv.

Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld told Xinhua news agency on Thursday that police and border police units held an exercise on Thursday to deal with "any possible scenario” in Israel.

The drill came as outgoing police chief Insp.-Gen. David Cohen said on Wednesday that 27,000 members of Israeli forces are ready to handle any breakout of protests in Israel. 

Cohen said Israel's security situation was "sensitive due to the developments in the Middle East.”

Meanwhile, the chairman of Bank Leumi, David Brodet, has said Israel does not have to beef up its defense spending further as the current revolution in Egypt has had grave financial effects on the North African country.

Former director-general of Israel's Defense Ministry Dir.-Gen. Pinhas Buchris has advised Israeli authorities not to seek a budget increase for military plans as it complicates the situation and may trigger a war with Egypt.

However, he called for a surge in the number of Israeli forces stationed in the Negev Desert and the deployment of Iron Dome anti-missile system in southern Israel as soon as possible.

Egyptian presidential sources say embattled Hosni Mubarak has relinquished power and left the country amid continued protest.
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