RELATED:Distribution of gas masks goes smoothly in nationwide drill"IDF has gas masks for 60% of public"According to the new plan, drafted by OC Home Front Command Maj.-Gen. Yair Golan, the Defense Ministry will only be responsible for distributing gas masks to children up to age eight, as well as to people below the poverty line, estimated by the defense establishment to be under 200,000.Each gas mask will cost an estimated NIS 220, and if the plan is approved, they will be available for purchase throughout the country. The reason the IDF wants to continue to distribute gas masks for children is that they are larger kits that operate on batteries and require special attention.Golan recently presented the plan to Deputy Defense Minister MatanVilna’i, and it is under evaluation. For the plan to proceed, it willneed to be approved by the government.Since the beginning of April, several hundred thousand Israelis havepicked up their gas masks from the Postal Company. At the same time,though, the IDF is missing about NIS 1.3 billion to complete therefurbishment of the gas masks and purchase new kits. With its currentbudget, it will only be able to supply 60 percent of the public withmasks.In discussions about the new plan, the Home Front Command has arguedthat as long as the government is not willing to provide the entirenecessary budget, it could be more effective for the Defense Ministryto stop its involvement in the program and literally pass the buck tothe citizen. Studies conducted by the IDF show that approximately 70%of the public will buy gas masks, and the remaining 30% will wait topurchase theirs until a state of emergency.
Public may pay for gas masks
If IDF plan is okayed, people will pay an estimated NIS 220 for kits.
RELATED:Distribution of gas masks goes smoothly in nationwide drill"IDF has gas masks for 60% of public"According to the new plan, drafted by OC Home Front Command Maj.-Gen. Yair Golan, the Defense Ministry will only be responsible for distributing gas masks to children up to age eight, as well as to people below the poverty line, estimated by the defense establishment to be under 200,000.Each gas mask will cost an estimated NIS 220, and if the plan is approved, they will be available for purchase throughout the country. The reason the IDF wants to continue to distribute gas masks for children is that they are larger kits that operate on batteries and require special attention.Golan recently presented the plan to Deputy Defense Minister MatanVilna’i, and it is under evaluation. For the plan to proceed, it willneed to be approved by the government.Since the beginning of April, several hundred thousand Israelis havepicked up their gas masks from the Postal Company. At the same time,though, the IDF is missing about NIS 1.3 billion to complete therefurbishment of the gas masks and purchase new kits. With its currentbudget, it will only be able to supply 60 percent of the public withmasks.In discussions about the new plan, the Home Front Command has arguedthat as long as the government is not willing to provide the entirenecessary budget, it could be more effective for the Defense Ministryto stop its involvement in the program and literally pass the buck tothe citizen. Studies conducted by the IDF show that approximately 70%of the public will buy gas masks, and the remaining 30% will wait topurchase theirs until a state of emergency.