Israelis Head to Gas Mask Distribution Centers as US and Other Western Nations Mull Syria Intervention

Afraid Syrian forces will target Israel

JERUSALEM, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Amid talks about a looming U.S.- led western attack on Syria, Israelis fearful of a possible Syrian retaliation flock to the gas masks distribution centers across the country, raising the demand by a fourfold in only two days.

As the Israeli government remains apparently calm in the face of an impending strike on its neighboring country, citizens fear that the alleged Syrian chemical weapons stock may be used against Israel. "We have seen a spike of 300 percent in phone calls asking for these kits since Sunday and twice the number of people have approached the postal centers to ask for them," a spokeswoman for the Israeli Postal Authority, in charge of distributing the masks, told Xinhua on Tuesday.