Stop gas mask production, defense officials say

Senior defense officials on Monday recommended that the production and distribution of gas masks be halted, citing new “intelligence assessments,” and possibly indicating a decrease in the likelihood of a Syrian chemical attack.

The cabinet is expected to review the recommendation in the coming days, according to Channel 2 News.

Reuters’ Dan Williams Tweeted on Monday night that the Civil Defense Ministry claimed “it has no knowledge of a recommendation to stop issuing gas masks.”

Israel's Civil Defence Ministry says it has no knowledge of a recommendation to stop issuing gas masks, pace @Channel2News.

— Dan Williams (@DanWilliams) November 11, 2013

But a Ma’ariv report confirmed that the recommendation was submitted, and it quoted military sources who said it was an “overly optimistic” suggestion that did not take into account the possibility that chemical weapons could transfer to other groups hostile to Israel.

In a last-minute deal brokered by Moscow, Syrian President Bashar Assad agreed to dismantle his chemical weapons program, and to have all deadly chemical agents shipped out of the country by mid-2014, thereby thwarting a US attack in September.

Over the summer, Israelis flooded gas mask distribution centers, fearing what seemed as an imminent US attack on Syria, which in turn was expected by many to trigger retaliation against Israel.

Despite Home Front Command efforts, in late August it was estimated that some 40 percent of Israelis did not have masks.