(NBC NEWS) TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel is set to deploy at least 8,000 police to protect Pope Francis during his upcoming two-day trip to Israel and the West Bank, the same number as guarded President Barack Obama during his recent visit, officials said.
The number was arrived at during a meeting between the chief of police and the Vatican ambassador to Israel, police spokesman Miki Rosenfeld said on Monday.
“You cannot exaggerate the importance of this visit on both a national and an international level,” Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino told reporters.
