The cabinet approved an end to distributing of gas masks to Israeli citizens on Sunday morning in response to the upcoming removal of chemical weapons from Syria. Beginning in February, the government will no longer provide protection against chemical warfare.
"It was an educated decision made after weighing our options and taking into consideration the change in threat level in the Middle East, and the power and abilities of the State of Israel," Minister of Defense Moshe Ya'alon explained in a statement.
Syria will still be in alleged possession of biological weapons.