While chemical weapons inspectors report that Syria’s chemical weapons storage has all but been eliminated, officials in the IDF’s Homefront Command are unwilling to take a risk. The military has announced it plans to continue distributing gas mask kits to citizens of Israel, at least for the coming half year. The program is continuing and it will be reevaluated again in seven months, during the summer of 2014. The decision is contrary to the opinion of Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, who feels it is now safe to halt the program in light of the new reality in Syria.

A senior Homefront Command officer quoted by Yediot Achronot explains the decision is not a fiscal one but strictly a decision based on military considerations. The official admits canceling the program could save millions of shekels but that is not what has been decided at present. The senior officer adds that even now that the IDF is moving forward, only 63% of the population will have a gas mask by mid 2014.

There has been much discussion over recent months to abolish the program but that is not going to happen for at least a number of months. Officials explain that in 2006 Hizbullah has 500 missiles with warheads of 350kg but today, there are at least 5,000 missiles with larger warheads, with a capacity of 750kg to 1 ton.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)