DATE=2/11/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226561
TITLE=ISRAEL / IRAQ (L ONLY)
BYLINE=MARK LAVIE
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER WEDNESDAY CALLED IN SENIOR
MINISTERS TO DISCUSS THE CRISIS OVER IRAQ. MARK LAVIE IN
JERUSALEM REPORTS IRAQ IS SIGNALING THAT IT WILL NOT ATTACK
ISRAEL, EVEN IF THE UNITED STATES LEADS AN OFFENSIVE AGAINST
IRAQ.
TEXT: ISRAELI SOURCES SAY IRAQ DELIVERED A MESSAGE THROUGH
RUSSIA AND OTHER THIRD PARTIES, REASSURING ISRAEL THAT IT WOULD
NOT BE A TARGET IF A MILITARY CONFRONTATION DEVELOPS BETWEEN
IRAQ AND THE UNITED STATES.
N BAGHDAD, THE IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTRY DENIED SENDING THE MESSAGE,
DECLARING IRAQ WOULD NEVER COMMUNICATE WITH WHAT IT CALLS THE
"ZIONIST ENTITY." BUT IRAQI OFFICIALS HAVE INSISTED ALL ALONG
THAT THEY WOULD NOT FIRE MISSILES AT ISRAEL, BECAUSE THEY HAVE
NONE LEFT.
DURING THE 1991 GULF WAR, IRAQ FIRED 39 SCUD MISSILES AT ISRAEL,
ALL WITH CONVENTIONAL WARHEADS. THE IRAQIS ALSO SAY THEY HAVE
NO CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS LEFT. BUT FEW IN ISRAEL
BELIEVE EITHER CLAIM.
ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU CALLED IN SENIOR
MINISTERS, INCLUDING TWO RETIRED GENERALS, FOR CONSULTATIONS
ABOUT THE IRAQ CRISIS. DEFENSE MINISTER YITZHAK MORDECAI
ESTIMATED THAT IRAQ STILL HAS FOUR OR FIVE MISSILE LAUNCHERS, AND
IS ABLE TO HIDE THEM...
/// MORDECAI ACT ///
THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT HAS ALL THE RIGHT TO DO
EVERYTHING THAT IS NECESSARY FOR OUR DEFENSE NOW AND FOR
THE FUTURE IF WE WILL BE ATTACKED BY SADDAM HUSSEIN OR
ANYONE ELSE. ONLY THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT WILL DECIDE
WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO DO.
/// END ACT ///
/// OPT /// THE ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER ALSO WARNED OF WHAT
HE CALLED FUTURE DANGERS POSED BY IRAN. HE CHARGED THAT RUSSIA
IS HELPING IRAN TO BUILD WEAPONS SYSTEMS THAT COULD THREATEN THE
MIDDLE EAST AND EUROPE, AS WELL.
/// OPT // MORDECAI ACT ///
IT'S NO DOUBT THAT RUSSIA IS SUPPORTING NOW IRAN TO
PRODUCE NON-CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS AND BALLISTIC MISSILES.
AND WE KNOW THAT IRAN HAS A PROJECT TO PRODUCE NON-
CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS--CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS.
/// END ACT ///
/// OPT /// IN THE PAST, ISRAEL HAS WARNED REPEATEDLY THAT
IRAN IS WORKING HARD TO OBTAIN NUCLEAR WEAPONS, AS WELL. ///
END OPT ///
SHIPMENTS OF GAS MASKS AND OTHER PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT ARE
ARRIVING IN ISRAEL TO MAKE UP FOR A SHORTAGE HERE, AS ISRAELIS
CONTINUE TO CROWD GOVERNMENT DISTRIBUTION POINTS. ISRAEL PLACED
ORDERS WITH THE UNITED STATES FOR PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND ALSO
FOR SOPHISTICATED DETECTORS TO IDENTIFY THE TYPE OF CHEMICAL OR
BIOLOGICAL AGENT CARRIED BY A WARHEAD. AT THE SAME TIME, ISRAELI
LEADERS CONTINUE TO SAY THAT THE PROBABILITY OF AN IRAQI ATTACK
IS VERY LOW. (SIGNED)
NEB/ML/JWH/WFR
11-Feb-98 6:42 AM EST (1142 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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