DATE=11/11/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241526
TITLE=ISRAEL / IRAQ / U-S (L)
BYLINE=AL PESSIN
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS URGED U-S CITIZENS TO CONSIDER  
LEAVING ISRAEL AND KUWAIT BECAUSE OF THE TENSIONS WITH IRAQ, AND 
IT HAS AUTHORIZED NON-ESSENTIAL DIPLOMATS AND DIPLOMATIC FAMILIES
IN THOSE COUNTRIES TO LEAVE AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE IF THEY WANT 
TO.  CORRESPONDENT AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM.

TEXT:  IT IS THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS 
AUTHORIZED WHAT IT CALLS A VOLUNTARY DEPARTURE OF DIPLOMATS AND 
THEIR FAMILIES FROM ISRAEL AND KUWAIT BECAUSE OF TENSIONS WITH 
IRAQ.  

THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE U-S EMBASSY IN TEL AVIV, LARRY SCHWARTZ. 

                  ///  SCHWARTZ ACTUALITY  ///

         THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS DEEMED IT PRUDENT TO ALLOW U-S 
         GOVERNMENT DEPENDENTS AND NON-EMERGENCY PERSONNEL WHO 
         WISH TO DO SO TO LEAVE POST TEMPORARY IN TEL AVIV, 
         JERUSALEM, AND KUWAIT UNTIL THE SITUATION BECOMES LESS 
         CONFRONTATIONAL BETWEEN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND 
         IRAQ.  

                     ///  END ACTUALITY  ///

MR. SCHWARTZ SAYS THE STATE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT DOES  NOT  
MEAN HOSTILITIES ARE IMMINENT, BUT HE DOES  NOT  RULE THEM OUT.  
HE OFFERS THIS ADVICE TO U-S CITIZENS VISITING THE AREA. 

                  ///  SCHWARTZ ACTUALITY  ///

         THE UNITED STATES IS PURSUING DIPLOMACY, BUT HAS  NOT  
         RULED OUT THE USE OF ANY OPTIONS.  IRAQ'S CONTINUING 
         DEFIANCE OF THE WILL OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS 
         HEIGHTENING THE LEVEL OF RISK TO AMERICAN CITIZENS IN 
         THE MIDDLE EAST.  PRIVATE CITIZENS MAY WISH TO CONSIDER 
         DEPARTING THE COUNTRY. 

                     ///  END ACTUALITY  ///

THE U-S GOVERNMENT IS  NOT  MAKING ANY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR 
THE DEPARTURE OF PRIVATE CITIZENS.

A SIMILAR INCREASE IN TENSIONS WITH IRAQ ALSO RESULTED IN A STATE
DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT IN FEBRUARY.  AT THAT TIME, ISRAEL WAS 
GRIPPED WITH A FAIR AMOUNT OF PANIC AS CITIZENS RUSHED TO GET GAS
MASKS AND TRIED TO SEAL THEIR HOMES AGAINST THE POSSIBILITY OF A 
CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL ATTACK FROM IRAQ.

NO MISSILES WERE FIRED AT ISRAEL AT THAT TIME.  BUT IN 1991, IRAQ
HIT ISRAEL WITH 39 SCUD MISSILES, ALL OF THEM CARRYING 
CONVENTIONAL EXPLOSIVE WAR HEADS.  IN ITS NEW ANNOUNCEMENT, THE 
STATE DEPARTMENT CALLS THE CHANCES OF A CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL 
ATTACK REMOTE, BUT SAYS THE POSSIBILITY CANNOT BE EXCLUDED.   
(SIGNED) 

NEB/AWP/JWH/RAE

11-Nov-98 1:22 PM EST (1822 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.