DATE=2/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227119
TITLE=ISRAEL ANTIBIOTICS (S&L)
BYLINE=MARK LAVIE
DATELINE=TEL AVIV
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ISRAEL'S CABINET IS CONSIDERING DISTRIBUTING ANTIBIOTICS
TO THE PEOPLE AGAINST THE POSSIBILITY OF A BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS
ATTACK FROM IRAQ. MARK LAVIE REPORTS FROM TEL AVIV ISRAELIS ARE
SHOWING CONCERN BORDERING ON PANIC.
TEXT: ISRAEL'S LEADERS DEBATED THE PROS AND CONS OF DISTRIBUTING
ANTIBIOTICS TO THE PEOPLE, AT LEAST THOSE IN POTENTIAL TARGET
AREAS FOR IRAQI MISSILE ATTACKS, LIKE THE POPULATION CENTERS OF
TEL AVIV AND HAIFA. THE ANTIBIOTICS WOULD CURE ANTHRAX.
BACTERIA THAT CAUSES ANTHRAX IS THOUGHT TO BE IRAQ'S MAIN
BIOLOGICAL WEAPON.
AMONG THOSE IN FAVOR IS ISRAELI PRESIDENT EZER WEIZMAN.
/// ACT WEIZMAN (HEBREW) FADES UNDER ///
THE ISRAELI PRESIDENT SAID -- IF IT IS POSSIBLE, WHY NOT
DISTRIBUTE ANTIBIOTICS? THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO DECIDE, AND IT
CANNOT MAKE A BIG MISTAKE. IT IS LIKE AN INSURANCE POLICY, SO
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.
THOSE WHO OPPOSE PASSING OUT THE ANTHRAX MEDICINE SAY IT WOULD BE
AN UNNECESSARY STEP THAT WOULD ONLY CONTRIBUTE TO PANIC AMONG THE
ISRAELI PEOPLE.
/// REST OPT FOR LONG REPORT ///
MEANWHILE, THE GOVERNMENT OPENED ADDITIONAL GAS MASK DISTRIBUTION
STATIONS SUNDAY. THE ISRAELI ARMY CONVERTED TEL AVIV'S MAIN
BASKETBALL STADIUM INTO A HUGE GAS-MASK STATION, OPEN 24-HOURS A
DAY.
// OPT // MOST ISRAELIS GOT THEIR FIRST GAS MASKS BEFORE THE
1991 GULF WAR. WHEN THEY SPENT MANY HOURS IN ROOMS SEALED OFF
WITH PLASTIC SHEETING AND TAPE. SADDAM HUSSEIN FIRED 39 SCUD
MISSILES AT ISRAEL THEN, ALL WITH CONVENTIONAL WARHEADS.
ISRAELIS HAVE BEEN CALLED TO GAS MASK DISTRIBUTION POINTS SEVERAL
TIMES SINCE THEN TO EXCHANGE THEIR MASKS AND OTHER PARTS OF THEIR
SURVIVAL KIT. BUT MOST IGNORED THE ORDERS UNTIL THE IRAQ
SITUATION HEATED UP AGAIN. // END OPT //
THE SCENES OF PANICKED ISRAELIS POUNDING ON THE DOORS OF
OVERWHELMED GAS MASK STATIONS, AND SNAPPING UP HUGE QUANTITIES OF
PLASTIC SHEETING TO SEAL ROOMS AGAINST CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL
ATTACKS LEADS TO OPPOSITE CONCLUSIONS AMONG ISRAELI PLANNERS WHEN
IT COMES TO DISTRIBUTING ANTIBIOTICS. ISRAELI HEALTH MINISTER
YEHOSHUA MATZA PREFERS TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER AN ATTACK.
/// ACT IN HEBREW, FADES UNDER ///
HE SAID -- THE PEOPLE SHOULD RELAX, BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT HAS
ALL THAT IS NECESSARY TO DEAL WITH ANY CRAZINESS THAT MIGHT BREAK
OUT IN THIS AREA.
OTHERS SAY THE SCENES OF NEAR-RIOTS AT GAS MASK STATIONS ARE
NOTHING COMPARED TO THE PANIC THAT WOULD RESULT IF THERE WERE A
BIOLOGICAL ATTACK ON ISRAEL -- AND IF ONLY THEN THE GOVERNMENT
DISTRIBUTED ANTIBIOTICS. BUT DOCTORS WARN THE ANTHRAX MEDICINE
COULD HAVE SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS AND EVEN IF THEY ARE TOLD TO WAIT
UNTIL IT IS NECESSARY, SOME ISRAELIS WOULD ENDANGER THEMSELVES BY
SWALLOWING THE MEDICINE AS SOON AS THEY GET IT.
A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT WHO WAS A SENIOR COMMANDER IN THE ISRAELI
ARMY WORRIES ABOUT THE MESSAGE ISRAEL IS SENDING TO THE WORLD.
HE SAID SCENES OF PANIC OVER GAS MASKS, PLASTIC SHEETING, AND
MEDICINE SHOW HUMILIATION AND FEAR -- A PUBLIC ADMISSION OF
DEFEAT BEFORE SADDAM HUSSEIN DOES ANYTHING.
ALL THIS AT A TIME WHEN ISRAELI LEADERS INSIST THERE IS ALMOST NO
CHANCE SADDAM HUSSEIN WOULD ATTACK ISRAEL THIS TIME. SOME
EXPERTS SAY HE DOES NOT HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO EFFECTIVELY FIRE
ANTHRAX-LOADED MISSILES. (SIGNED)
NEB/ML/DW/RAE
22-Feb-98 10:36 AM EST (1536 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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