Postal Service reports four-fold increase in gas mask inquiries among Syria attack talk

According to Home Front Command figures, only 60% of Israelis have gas masks, the rest are lining up as Syria heats up.

By BEN HARTMAN
IDF Gas Mask preparedness drill 521 (photo credit: IDF)
IDF Gas Mask preparedness drill 521
(photo credit: IDF)
As talk of a possible US-led attack on the Assad regime picked up over the weekend, the Israel Postal Authority said that on Sunday there was a four-folds increase in the number of Israelis calling to inquire about picking up gas masks over a typical week-day.
Maya Avishai, the Israel Postal Company's spokesperson, added that the number of Israelis who contacted the postal service's call center on Sunday to order the gas masks delivered to their house was three times that of a normal weekday.
Avishai said that while the postal service will only have the official numbers by Monday morning, in speaking with employees of distribution centers around the country they have reported a significant increase in pick-ups on Sunday.
Israeli civilians are allocated gas masks and protective gear at postal service-operated distribution centers.
According to Home Front Command figures, only 60% of Israelis have gas masks.