Israel is Inadequately Prepared for Chemical Weapons Attack, New Report Shows
by Zach Pontz
IDF Soldier showing child how to put on gas mask. Photo: IDF.
Israel’s preparedness for a possible chemical weapon attack is inadequate, according to the Israel Home Front Defense Ministry’s new annual report.
“As of 2012, the readiness level of government office and state authorities for an unconventional weapon attack stands at low-medium,” the report said.
Most problematic is that only 60 percent of Israeli citizens have non-conventional warfare protection kits, which include age-appropriate gas masks, and that due to budget shortfalls there are not enough kits in storage.
According to Israel Hayom, On May 27, the Home Front Defense Ministry, Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command and local authorities are scheduled to carry out a drill simulating a chemical attack. It had been scheduled to take place in the beginning of the month, but due to tensions on the Syrian border, the exercise was delayed.
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The international community and Israel in particular have long worried that Syrian chemical weapons could fall into the hands of Hezbollah and other rogue terrorist organizations and then be used on foreign soil. According to reports, chemical weapons have already been used in the domestic conflict.
The Home Front Defense Ministry report reflects the current fears, saying that there are numerous indicators of terrorist organizations trying to get their hands on non-conventional weapons.
