Israel begins distributing gas masks to citizens

           Israel has begun distributing new gas masks to its 7 million citizens to offer protection against a possible chemical attack. Israel's postal service is handing out the equipment in a process, it says, that will take about three years. Avi Hochman, CEO & President of the Israel Postal Company stated that they have made the necessary preparations for the task, inDistribution began Sunday in the city of Or Yehuda. The distribution will continue over a period of 6 days and will then be extended to Kiryat Ono, in central Israel, and the surrounding areas. The Israeli military says it is routine and not in response to a specific threat. Israel believes a chemical attack could potentially come from Syria or Iran. Israel has distributed gas masks and kits with antidotes in the past, beginning with the first Gulf War in 1991. Three years ago, Israel recalled masks after some components passed their expiration date. cluding a state-of-the art technological and logistical infrastructure.(21,00)