DATE=12/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243134
TITLE=ISRAEL / IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: ISRAEL, WHICH SUSTAINED SCUD MISSILE ATTACKS IN THE GULF 
WAR, SAYS IT IS  NOT  PART OF THE CURRENT GULF CONFRONTATION, BUT
IS READY TO DEFEND ITSELF IF ATTACKED. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST 
REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM.

TEXT:  ISRAEL WAS HIT BY 39 SCUDS IN THE GULF WAR, SEVERAL OF 
WHICH SLAMMED INTO CENTRAL TEL AVIV.  BUT ISRAELI DEFENSE 
OFFICIALS RATE THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ATTACK THIS TIME AS VERY 
LOW.

PRESIDENT CLINTON ADVISED PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU OF 
THE LIKELIHOOD OF AN ATTACK ON IRAQ JUST AS HE WAS ENDING HIS 
ISRAEL VISIT ON TUESDAY, BUT ISRAELI OFFICIALS SAY THEY WERE  NOT
INFORMED OF THE ACTUAL ATTACK UNTIL AFTER IT HAD BEGUN.

IN AN ISRAEL RADIO INTERVIEW, PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU SAID 
ISRAEL IS  NOT  PART OF THE CURRENT CONFLICT, AND DOES  NOT  
INTEND TO BE PART OF IT.  NONE-THE-LESS, HE SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT 
IS READY FOR ANY SCENARIO, AND RETAINS THE RIGHT OF SELF-DEFENSE.

  /// NETANYAHU ACT IN HEBREW, FADING BACK TO CORRESPONDENT ///

WHILE DECLINING SPECIFICS, MR. NETANYAHU SAYS EVERYONE IN THE 
REGION KNOWS WHAT ISRAEL'S MILITARY CABILITIES ARE, AND THAT IT 
CONSIDERS SECURITY ITS HIGHEST VALUE.

ISRAEL HAS IN ITS INVENTORY ADVANCED U-S - MADE "PATRIOT" 
AIR-DEFENSE MISSILES, CAPABLE OF HITTING INCOMING "SCUDS."  AND 
ADDITIONAL "PATRIOT" BATTERIES ARE IN THE COUNTRY AS PART OF A 
U-S ARMY EXERCISE.

ISRAEL IS DEVELOPING ITS OWN "ARROW" ANTI-MISSILE SYSTEM WITH U-S
AID, BUT ONLY THE EARLY-WARNING RADARS CONNECTED WITH IT HAVE 
BEEN DEPLOYED.

A SENIOR ISRAELI MILITARY INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL HAS TOLD 
REPORTERS SADDAM HUSSEIN PROBABLY STILL HAS "SCUD" MISSILES -- 
SOME WITH CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL WARHEADS.

BUT THE OFFICIAL SAYS THE IRAQI LEADER IS UNLIKELY TO USE THE 
MISSILES QUICKLY, SINCE THIS WOULD PROVE HE HAS LIED TO THE 
UNITED NATIONS ABOUT HIS WEAPONS CAPABILITY.  HE SAID SADDAM 
HUSSEIN WOULD USE THEM AGAINST ISRAEL ONLY IF FACED WITH IMMINENT
DESTRUCTION AND DEFEAT.

                        /// REST OPT ///

DEFENSE OFFICIALS HAVE REOPENED 65 GAS-MASK DISTRIBUTION CENTERS 
ACROSS ISRAEL, TO ALLOW CITIZENS TO REPLACE OUTDATED MASKS AND TO
GUARD AGAINST THE CHANCE IRAQ MIGHT FIRE MISSILES WITH CHEMICAL 
WARHEADS.

THEY ALSO ARE ADVISING ISRAELIS TO STOCK UP ON PLASTIC SHEETS, 
TAPE AND OTHER MATERIAL TO SEAL ROOMS IN THEIR HOMES AGAINST GAS.
 (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/WTW

17-Dec-98 2:38 AM EST (0738 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.