Israel Matzav

Are you exposed?

More than a year ago, I warned those of you who live in Israel to make sure you have gas masks. Did you listen? At the time, I warned that 40% of Israelis won't have gas masks by the end of 2012. Well, it's worse than that. Between 45-50% of Israelis won't have gas masks when the music stops. And the music is scheduled to stop sometime in April.

IDF data shows that it has only 400,000 kits left, which are expected to be distributed within the next three months on a "first come, first serve" basis. While the government has commissioned the production of 120,000 additional gas mask kits, the measure was meant to make sure that the factories remain functional; these kits are not to be distributed.

Once the last kits are distributed, 55% of Israeli citizens – 4.2 million people – will be in possession of a gas mask. The other 45%, as well as tens of thousands of refugees and migrant workers, will remain unprotected should an unconventional attack target Israel.

Producing enough kits to cover the rest of the population would cost NIS 1.2 billion (roughly $318 million).

"The distribution will stop because we don't have the budget," a senior Home Front Command official said. "But even if the funds turn up, it would take two years to manufacture the rest of the kits."

The data shows that in the area that is most vulnerable to an attack, stretching from Haifa to Ashdod, 38% of the citizens don't have gas masks. In cities that are less exposed, like Jerusalem and Eilat, distribution centers never opened. As result, only 15% of residents in the capital have a gas mask. Some 52% of Tel Aviv residents are in possession of the protective equipment.

Who says Jerusalem is less exposed?

If you don't have a gas mask and you live in Israel, please go tomorrow morning and get one. In light of the threats that we face, the failure to provide nearly half the population with gas masks is gross negligence of epic proportions (and something I have been warning about for years).

What could go wrong?

Labels: gas masks, IDF Home Front Command, weapons of mass destruction

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:41 AM