ISRAEL: Nationwide distribution of gas masks begins in Israel

Record ID: 396366

  • Title: ISRAEL: Nationwide distribution of gas masks begins in Israel
  • Date: 2nd March 2010
  • Summary: BOXES OF GAS MASKS ON GROUND/WORKER GIVING BOX TO OTHER WORKER AS PEOPLE ARE WAITING TO RECEIVE GAS MASKS WOMAN SITTING UNDER MONITOR WHICH IS SHOWING VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING GAS MASKS VARIOUS OF WORKERS AND SOLDIERS FROM ISRAELI ARMY HOME FRONT COMMAND DISTRIBUTING GAS MASKS PEOPLE RECEIVING GAS MASK BOXES BOXES ON TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (English) LOCAL RESIDENT JAC
  • Embargoed: 17th March 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA1MVV5TDG7SMHLXYJYSVUJXNOG
  • Story Text: The Israeli army on Monday (March 1) launched a nation-wide distribution of gas masks.
    Dozens of residents of Or Yehuda -- a city situated adjacent to Israel's Ben Gurion international airport -- queued up at the distribution centre to receive new gas masks.
    Within a three year period, the entire Israeli population will be equipped with new masks to replace old ones, according to Israeli media.
    Some of those who received the gas masks, said they had fears of an attack from outside countries.
    "It can happen, war with Iran or Iraq or whatever. We're not sure," said Jacqueline, a local resident who came to receive new gas masks.
    "Better be safe than sorry," added another resident, Yitzhak Yehiel.
    The spokeswoman of the Israeli Postal Authority, responsible for the nation-wide project, said that it had nothing to do with any emergency situation.
    "It's not up to any emergency situation that is in the current time. It's....the decision to give the people of Israel gas masks was taken a year ago and in the last year the Israeli Defence Ministry has made all the preparations because it's a nation-wide project, it's very big and it has a lot of preparations to make and this is just the time that we begin. It has nothing to do with any situation," said spokeswoman Merav Lapidot.
    Israeli media reported that in the event of an emergency, the Israeli army Home Front Command is prepared to provide kits to the entire population within a matter of a few weeks.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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