Studying Israeli army officers told to prepare for possible war
Israel-Iraq, Local, 2/18/1998

Despite all signals from the Gulf that a political settlement for the present standoff between the US and Iraq is in the making, Israel continued its preparations and has decided to recruit army officers who are currently participating in colleges and universities.

Israeli sources said that hundreds of army officers currently studying received orders from the Home Front Command to leave their studies and return to active duty. The Home Front Command conducted a training exercise with 300 of its officers who are currently studying in various Israeli universities. The duration of the exercise was only one day and the officers were released home upon its conclusion. But most of them will be forced to miss at least some of their studies in the coming few weeks since they will have to be present at the various gas mask distribution stations that are to be opened as of next week.

Meanwhile, civil defense drills continued to take place in Israel and the Home Front Command conducted another exercise Tuesday in which the troops practiced the distribution of pills and vaccinations to a population that had ³sustained² a biological warfare attack. The exercise was carried out by soldiers and officers commissioned to serve in that capacity should the need arise.

The army had instructed all its soldiers to return the gas masks they received while they were civilians in order to make them available to the public at large. This policy was decided upon since all Israeli soldiers receive gas masks that are available on all military bases.

Previous Stories:
  Sealing tape and plastic sheets: a booming business in Israel   (2/17/1998)
  Israeli Mossad report on Amman Fiasco: background   (2/16/1998)
  Jewish settlements acquire front line status, Peace Now protests   (2/9/1998)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search