Palestinians 'not given gas masks'

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday March 21, 2003 16:44 by auntie beeb

Around 60,000 Palestinians in the West Bank are under Israeli security and administrative control.

The Israeli army has not distributed gas masks to Palestinians in parts of the West Bank, despite a ruling by the Israeli High Court.

Palestinians 'not given gas masks'

The Israeli army has not distributed gas masks to Palestinians in parts of the West Bank, despite a ruling by the Israeli High Court.

Around 60,000 Palestinians in the West Bank are under Israeli security and administrative control.

According to the Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, Israel is obliged to give this equipment to people living in these areas.

The Israeli army says it is still assessing the situation and preparing to distribute protective kits, but is awaiting a final decision to go ahead.

Palestinians have criticised the decision, with cabinet minister Ghassan Khatib calling it racist and discriminatory.

Public warnings

Israel had already distributed gas masks throughout Israel as aUS-led war on Iraq seemed imminent, ordering people to carry them at all times.

Israelis have also been told to buy supplies and prepare sealed rooms in their homes.

Israel makes war preparations
During the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq fired 39 Scud missiles at the Israeli city of Tel Aviv.

Although the Israeli Government believes that there is only a small chance that Iraq will fire missiles this time, it says it must take precautions.

Many people in Tel Aviv say they are so used to war that the extra threat has not made much difference to their lives.

"This is not our war, we've been told the risk is almost non-existent," Amir, a butcher in the city told French news agency AFP.

"Some of us brought radios just in case, but it's like following a football match."

The Israeli army has now called up thousands of reservists. It says it is ready to use its anti-missile systems, developed with the US after the last Gulf War.

It has two systems - the short-range Patriot and the longer-range Arrow, although BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the Arrow is so far untested in real combat situations.