DATE=2/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226651
TITLE=ISRAEL/IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=AL PESSIN
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ISRAELI'S PRIME MINISTER HAS ISSUED A VEILED THREAT TO
USE HIS COUNTRY'S SUSPECTED NUCLEAR CAPABILITY IN RESPONSE TO ANY
ATTACK BY IRAQ. DETAILS FROM V-O-A'S AL PESSIN IN JERUSALEM.
TEXT: PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU TOLD ISRAEL RADIO HE IS
NOT RELYING ON IRAQI ASSURANCES THAT IT WILL ONLY ATTACK
COUNTRIES WHICH ATTACK IT FIRST. RATHER, HE SAID, ISRAEL IS
MAKING ALL NECESSARY PREPARATIONS.
///NETANYAHU ACT IN HEBREW -- ESTABLISH AND FADE UNDER///
MR. NETANYAHU SAID ISRAEL IS ABLE TO DEFEND ITSELF, AND HAS WHAT
HE CALLED "OTHER CAPABILITIES" WHICH HE HOPES IT WILL NOT HAVE TO
USE. THAT IS AN APPARENT REFERENCE TO ISRAEL'S WIDELY-REPORTED --
BUT NEVER OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGED -- NUCLEAR WEAPONS CAPABILITY.
ANALYSTS HAVE BEEN SPECULATING ABOUT WHETHER ISRAEL MIGHT USE
SUCH WEAPONS AGAINST IRAQ, IF IRAQ FIRES CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL
WEAPONS AT ISRAEL. MR. NETANYAHU APPEARS TO BE SIGNALING HE
MIGHT DO JUST THAT.
AT THE SAME TIME, ISRAELI OFFICIALS AND MILITARY EXPERTS CONTINUE
TO SAY THE LIKELIHOOD OF AN IRAQI STRIKE ON ISRAEL IS VERY LOW,
AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL ATTACK IS EVEN
LOWER. IRAQ LAUNCHED 39 SCUD MISSILES ON ISRAEL DURING THE 1991
GULF WAR, BUT NONE OF THEM HAD CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL WARHEADS.
//OPT// STILL, ISRAELIS CONTINUE TO LINE UP AT GAS MASK
DISTRIBUTION CENTERS, AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS ORDERED AS MANY AS
400-THOUSAND ADDITIONAL MASKS FROM ABROAD TO MAKE UP FOR A
SHORTFALL. THE ADDITIONAL MASKS ARE PARTLY TO PROVIDE FOR
TOURISTS AND OTHER FOREIGNERS WHO WERE LEFT OUT OF EARLIER PLANS.
//END OPT//
MEANWHILE, SMALL BUT VOCAL NUMBERS OF PALESTINIANS CONTINUE TO
VOICE THEIR SUPPORT FOR IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN. SEVERAL
HUNDRED PALESTINIAN STUDENTS MARCHED IN THE DIVIDED WEST BANK
CITY OF HEBRON THURSDAY, CHANTING "DEAR SADDAM, HIT TEL AVIV."
THEY THREW STONES AT ISRAELI SOLDIERS MANNING THE LINE BETWEEN
THE ISRAELI-AND-PALESTINIAN-CONTROLLED SECTORS OF THE CITY.
///REST OPT///
THE MAIN PALESTINIAN POLITICAL PARTY, FATAH, ORGANIZED SEVERAL
SUCH MARCHES EARLIER IN THE WEEK, BUT THEN THE PALESTINIAN
AUTHORITY BANNED THEM. THURSDAY'S MARCH WENT AHEAD IN SPITE OF
THE BAN.
IN HIS RADIO INTERVIEW THURSDAY, PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU SAID
THE IRAQ CRISIS IS HURTING THE ALREADY TROUBLED
ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE PROCESS. HE SAID IN THE CURRENT
ATMOSPHERE, IT IS MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY TO
COOPERATE WITH ISRAEL.
ASIDE FROM GENERAL PALESTINIAN SUPPORT FOR IRAQ, MANY
PALESTINIANS ARE ANGRY WITH THE UNITED STATES FOR TRYING TO FORCE
IRAQ TO ABIDE BY UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTIONS WHILE, IN THE
PALESTINIAN VIEW, THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT FORCE ISRAEL TO
ABIDE BY U-N RESOLUTIONS OR BY PEACE AGREEMENTS SIGNED AT THE
WHITE HOUSE. (SIGNED)
NEB/AWP/PCF
12-Feb-98 9:39 AM EST (1439 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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