Israel to stop public distribution of gas masks

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel will end the pubic distribution of gas masks next month, the Security Cabinet decided.

Sunday’s decision came in light of the security establishment’s assessment that there has been a significant decline in the threat of a chemical weapons attack on Israel, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

At the end of February, the production of gas mask kits will continue on a limited basis for rescue forces; they no longer will be distributed to the public. .

The decision to stop distributing gas mask kits to the public will be reviewed at the end of the year, when a new security establishment assessment will be made.