DATE=11/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241596
TITLE=IRAQ / ISRAEL REACT (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ROSS DUNN
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  ISRAEL'S ARMY HAS OPENED GAS MASK DISTRIBUTION CENTERS IN
PREPARATION FOR ANY IRAQI RETALIATION FOR U-S AIR STRIKES AGAINST
BAGHDAD.  ROSS DUNN IN JERUSALEM ALSO REPORTS THE IRAQI DISPUTE 
IS BEGINNING TO HAVE SOME EFFECT ON TOURISM IN ISRAEL. 

TEXT:  WHEN THE GAS MASK DISTRIBUTION CENTERS OPENED ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY, A FEW HUNDRED BRITISH TOURISTS IN THE RED SEA RESORT OF 
EILAT DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO GO HOME.  THE BRITISH TOUR OPERATOR 
THOMSON, WHICH HAD 600 CUSTOMERS IN EILAT, ARRANGED FOUR FLIGHTS,
WITH ROOM FOR 150 PASSENGERS EACH, TO TAKE THEIR CUSTOMERS OUT OF
ISRAEL.

THIS, HOWEVER, WAS  NOT  THE SCENE IN JERUSALEM, WHERE HOTELS 
REMAIN FULLY BOOKED.  AND, BARRING AN IRAQI ATTACK, HOTEL 
MANAGERS SAY THEY EXPECT THINGS TO REMAIN THAT WAY.

IRIT GAZIT IS THE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER FOR THE KING DAVID 
HOTEL, THE CITY'S MOST FAMOUS AND PRESTIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION 
CENTER.

                       ///  GAZIT ACT  ///

         WE HAVE HAD ONLY TWO CANCELLATIONS AND WE HOPE IT IS 
         GOING TO STAY LIKE THAT. WE ARE FULLY BOOKED.  IF 
         TOMORROW SOMETHING HAPPENS, SO MAYBE THE FAX WILL BE 
         FULL OF CANCELLATIONS.  BUT RIGHT NOW, NOTHING -- ONLY 
         TWO PRIVATE CANCELLATIONS. 

         ///  OPT   ///   HOPEFULLY THINGS WILL BE RELAXED AND 
         PEOPLE WILL COME BECAUSE WE ARE EXPECTING A VERY BIG 
         CONVENTION STARTING ON SUNDAY IN ISRAEL.  IT IS A 
         GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF ALL THE JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS IN THE 
         UNITED STATES AND IT IS THE FIRST TIME IT SHOULD BE IN 
         ISRAEL.   ///  END OPT  ///

                        ///  END ACT  ///

AND WHILE THE HOTELS WERE FULL, THE GAS MASK DISTRIBUTION CENTERS
WERE  NOT.  THERE IS  NOT  THE SAME SENSE OF PANIC AS EXISTED 
DURING THE 1991 GULF WAR, WHEN ISRAEL WAS HIT BY A BARRAGE OF 
SCUD MISSILES FROM IRAQ.

BUT AMONG THOSE WHO DID SHOW UP THERE WAS SENSE THAT IT IS BETTER
TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.  AMONG THEM WAS LESLIE UDWIN, AN IMMIGRANT
FROM SOUTH AFRICA WHO HAS LIVED IN ISRAEL FOR A QUARTER CENTURY. 
HE BROUGHT ALONG HIS NINE-MONTH OLD SON TO BE OUTFITTED WITH A 
GAS MASK.

FATHERHOOD, HE SAYS, HAS FOCUSED HIS MIND ON TAKING GREATER 
PRECAUTIONS FOR HIS FAMILY, THAN HE PERHAPS WOULD HAVE DONE FOR 
HIMSELF.

                       ///  UDWIN ACT  ///

         ANOTHER EVENT, ANOTHER WAR IS REALLY  NOT  SUCH A BIG 
         DEAL ONCE YOU HAVE LIVED HERE FOR A WHILE.  BUT ONCE YOU
         BRING A NEW GENERATION IN, ALL OF A SUDDEN YOUR 
         RESPONSIBILITIES INCREASE TREMENDOUSLY AND YOUR CAVALIER
         ATTITUDE  SEEMS TO EVAPORATE.  AND SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE
         COME OVER HERE AND MOSTLY FOR MY SON TO MAKE SURE 
         EVERYTHING IS ALL RIGHT FOR HIM, BECAUSE IT WOULD 
         INTOLERABLE IF SOMETHING HAPPENED (TO HIM) JUST BECAUSE 
         OUR ATTITUDE HAS HARDENED OVER 25 YEARS.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

ONE MAN WHO SEEMS LESS CONCERNED IS ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER 
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU.  ASKED AT A NEWS CONFERENCE  (THURSDAY) IF HE
HAS A GAS MASK, MR NETANYAHU REPLIED THAT HE WAS NOT SURE AND 
WOULD HAVE TO CHECK.  AND HE INDICATED IT WOULD BE TROUBLESOME 
FOR HIM TO SEARCH THROUGH A CLOSET AT HOME TO FIND ONE.  (SIGNED)

NEB/RD/JWH/PT

12-Nov-98 3:37 PM EST (2037 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.