Israel: New Gas Mask Kits To Be Issued In January

Jun 30, 2008

Israelis will receive renovated gas mask kits in January, Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilna'i announced on Sunday.

But before then, Israel could find itself under attack without the means to protect its civilians, said Yuval Steinitz, chairman of the Knesset Subcommittee for Security Perception.

Steinitz said the masks should have been returned to the general population months ago, adding that the government was lagging far behind its own timetable. Israelis would be "wholly unprotected" should war erupt in the next six months, he warned.

"The masks were collected during 2007, and the government said it will repair and redistribute them all over northern Israel and to reserve soldiers by the end of 2007. Then, at the beginning of 2008, the government was supposed to complete the redistribution to the rest of Israel. Here we are two years later, and no masks have been redistributed," Steinitz said.

He dismissed out of hand the idea that the Home Front Command could rapidly distribute the masks should war erupt this year.

"No one can tell when we will be at war. If we have an escalation with Syria, or if, for example, America attacks Iran and some Shihab missiles with gas fall on Tel Aviv or Haifa, it would be impossible to distribute the masks. So I think this is very irresponsible," said Steinitz. "I can tell you with confidence, if there is war tomorrow, not even 20 percent of the population would receive the masks."


Jerusalem Post: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1214726154340&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

they really needed those masks when saddam was bombing them in '91. they had no idea whether chemical weapons were being used.

More fear mongering, ala imagination.

for over at least the last year.

I watch the 'gas mask' reports with interest because it is my belief that when it is reported that hurried distribution is taking place, the bombing is soon to begin.

Modern chemical agents can be absorbed through the skin. This is a feel good measure to distract the Israeli public from massive expenditure on the bunker being built for government officials.

The poisons we manufacture today have nothing in common whit the ones used in WWI.

Or, at least, there suppose to.