The Israeli government began distributing gas masks to its 7 million citizens on Sunday. This is a return to a precaution that has not been seen since the Gulf War of 1991.
Israel plans to distribute a gas mask to every single citizen by 2013. The masks were recalled about three years ago because some components were past their safe use date.
The government was clear that there is no specific threat today, but a future threat from Syria or Iran warrant the expense and precaution of re-distributing the masks.
In the past, gas masks were distributed with antidote kits in case anyone was sickened by a gas attack.
It is good to know everyone will be safe, but it is sad that this precaution is still needed. Hopefully the Iron Dome and long range missile defense will make the masks unnecessary. Even better, maybe there will be no attack at all.
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