DATE=11/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241596
TITLE=IRAQ / ISRAEL REACT (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ROSS DUNN
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ISRAEL'S ARMY HAS OPENED GAS MASK DISTRIBUTION CENTERS IN
PREPARATION FOR ANY IRAQI RETALIATION FOR U-S AIR STRIKES AGAINST
BAGHDAD. ROSS DUNN IN JERUSALEM ALSO REPORTS THE IRAQI DISPUTE
IS BEGINNING TO HAVE SOME EFFECT ON TOURISM IN ISRAEL.
TEXT: WHEN THE GAS MASK DISTRIBUTION CENTERS OPENED ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, A FEW HUNDRED BRITISH TOURISTS IN THE RED SEA RESORT OF
EILAT DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO GO HOME. THE BRITISH TOUR OPERATOR
THOMSON, WHICH HAD 600 CUSTOMERS IN EILAT, ARRANGED FOUR FLIGHTS,
WITH ROOM FOR 150 PASSENGERS EACH, TO TAKE THEIR CUSTOMERS OUT OF
ISRAEL.
THIS, HOWEVER, WAS NOT THE SCENE IN JERUSALEM, WHERE HOTELS
REMAIN FULLY BOOKED. AND, BARRING AN IRAQI ATTACK, HOTEL
MANAGERS SAY THEY EXPECT THINGS TO REMAIN THAT WAY.
IRIT GAZIT IS THE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER FOR THE KING DAVID
HOTEL, THE CITY'S MOST FAMOUS AND PRESTIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
CENTER.
/// GAZIT ACT ///
WE HAVE HAD ONLY TWO CANCELLATIONS AND WE HOPE IT IS
GOING TO STAY LIKE THAT. WE ARE FULLY BOOKED. IF
TOMORROW SOMETHING HAPPENS, SO MAYBE THE FAX WILL BE
FULL OF CANCELLATIONS. BUT RIGHT NOW, NOTHING -- ONLY
TWO PRIVATE CANCELLATIONS.
/// OPT /// HOPEFULLY THINGS WILL BE RELAXED AND
PEOPLE WILL COME BECAUSE WE ARE EXPECTING A VERY BIG
CONVENTION STARTING ON SUNDAY IN ISRAEL. IT IS A
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF ALL THE JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS IN THE
UNITED STATES AND IT IS THE FIRST TIME IT SHOULD BE IN
ISRAEL. /// END OPT ///
/// END ACT ///
AND WHILE THE HOTELS WERE FULL, THE GAS MASK DISTRIBUTION CENTERS
WERE NOT. THERE IS NOT THE SAME SENSE OF PANIC AS EXISTED
DURING THE 1991 GULF WAR, WHEN ISRAEL WAS HIT BY A BARRAGE OF
SCUD MISSILES FROM IRAQ.
BUT AMONG THOSE WHO DID SHOW UP THERE WAS SENSE THAT IT IS BETTER
TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. AMONG THEM WAS LESLIE UDWIN, AN IMMIGRANT
FROM SOUTH AFRICA WHO HAS LIVED IN ISRAEL FOR A QUARTER CENTURY.
HE BROUGHT ALONG HIS NINE-MONTH OLD SON TO BE OUTFITTED WITH A
GAS MASK.
FATHERHOOD, HE SAYS, HAS FOCUSED HIS MIND ON TAKING GREATER
PRECAUTIONS FOR HIS FAMILY, THAN HE PERHAPS WOULD HAVE DONE FOR
HIMSELF.
/// UDWIN ACT ///
ANOTHER EVENT, ANOTHER WAR IS REALLY NOT SUCH A BIG
DEAL ONCE YOU HAVE LIVED HERE FOR A WHILE. BUT ONCE YOU
BRING A NEW GENERATION IN, ALL OF A SUDDEN YOUR
RESPONSIBILITIES INCREASE TREMENDOUSLY AND YOUR CAVALIER
ATTITUDE SEEMS TO EVAPORATE. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE
COME OVER HERE AND MOSTLY FOR MY SON TO MAKE SURE
EVERYTHING IS ALL RIGHT FOR HIM, BECAUSE IT WOULD
INTOLERABLE IF SOMETHING HAPPENED (TO HIM) JUST BECAUSE
OUR ATTITUDE HAS HARDENED OVER 25 YEARS.
/// END ACT ///
ONE MAN WHO SEEMS LESS CONCERNED IS ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU. ASKED AT A NEWS CONFERENCE (THURSDAY) IF HE
HAS A GAS MASK, MR NETANYAHU REPLIED THAT HE WAS NOT SURE AND
WOULD HAVE TO CHECK. AND HE INDICATED IT WOULD BE TROUBLESOME
FOR HIM TO SEARCH THROUGH A CLOSET AT HOME TO FIND ONE. (SIGNED)
NEB/RD/JWH/PT
12-Nov-98 3:37 PM EST (2037 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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