Israeli Public Prepares for Possible Syrian Attack as Shekel Plummets

Israeli Public Prepares for Possible Syrian Attack as Shekel Plummets

Posted by: Ahuva Balofsky August 28, 2013 , 1:04 pm

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1 [A Psalm] of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? {N} The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When evil-doers came upon me to eat up my flesh, {N} even mine adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; {N} though war should rise up against me, even then will I be confident. 4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: {N} that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, {N} to behold the graciousness of the LORD, and to visit early in His temple. 5 For He concealeth me in His pavilion in the day of evil; {N} He hideth me in the covert of His tent; He lifteth me up upon a rock. 6 And now shall my head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me; and I will offer in His tabernacle sacrifices with trumpet-sound; {N} I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. 7 Hear, O LORD, when I call with my voice, and be gracious unto me, and answer me. 8 In Thy behalf my heart hath said: ‘Seek ye My face’; Thy face, LORD, will I seek. 9 Hide not Thy face from me; put not Thy servant away in anger; {N} Thou hast been my help; cast me not off, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10 For though my father and my mother have forsaken me, the LORD will take me up. 11 Teach me Thy way, O LORD; and lead me in an even path, because of them that lie in wait for me. 12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine adversaries; for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out violence. 13 If I had not believed to look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!– 14 Wait on the LORD; be strong, and let thy heart take courage; yea, wait thou for the LORD. {P} (Psalms 27)

An Israeli woman shows her children how to put on a gas mask as they pick their gas masks at a distribution center in Jerusalem on August 27, 2013. As talks of an international attack on Syria heighten, the demand for gas masks in Israel rose. (Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

During the weeks preceding and following the Jewish New Year, beginning this year on the evening of September 4, Jews around the world recite this psalm twice daily.  In light of rising tensions with Syria, this seems particularly apropos.

As the governments of the US, Britain, France and Turkey move towards authorizing a strike on the abusive Syrian regime, Israel is bracing itself for the potential fall-out.

“The state’s duty is to be ready for any scenario,” MK Eli Yishai, chairman of the Knesset Homefront Preparedness Subcommittee, said.  The subcommittee is scheduled to meet tomorrow to examine the homefront’s readiness.  This follows a pre-planned drill Tuesday in the Golan Heights region, involving security and emergency forces, and, according to Army Radio, a surprise meeting of the security cabinet, presumably to discuss the current situation with Syria.

After the meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “The State of Israel is prepared for every scenario.  We’re not part of the Syrian civil war, but if we’ll spot an attempt to harm us we’ll respond with great force.”

Residents have also responded to the impending danger.  About 40% of Israelis do not have their gas masks, distributed since 2010 by the Israel Postal Company.  In recent days, however, demand has increased to the point where people are being encouraged to use the website or call center to order their kits, to reduce strain at the distribution centers.  As one resident of Zichron Yaakov told Ynet, “Though the risk is low, it still seems more probable than before.  The Americans are going to attack and we already know that Assad has chemical weapons, so why take the risk?”  Homefront command has not yet issued new instructions to citizens to obtain gas masks, but the Israel Postal Company has prepared for the increased demand.

Other preparations being taken include putting Haifa’s Patriot anti-missile batteries on alert and aiming them towards the north.  Along with Iron Dome, the Patriot batteries are part of Israel’s extensive missile defense system, responsible for stopping incoming Scud missiles during the 1991 Gulf War.

On Wednesday According to The Times of Israel reported that the Syrian opposition on Wednesday charged that regime forces had unleashed a chemical attack on civilians in Damascus overnight Tuesday. They claim the attack has left 20 dead. The reports are thus far unconfirmed.

Israel expects to be alerted ahead of any US attack on Syria.  The defense establishment is considering every scenario, including a moderate Syrian retaliation, possibly without direct involvement, in the form of rocket fire or an attack at the border.

According to Bloomberg  News, following US Secretary of State John Kerry’s announcement that the US was going to retaliate, with an expected  subsequent Syrian attack on Israel, the New Israeli Shekel has suffered its steepest two-day drop in over three months. The shekel depreciated 1.2 percent to 3.6519 a dollar, at 5:45 p.m. in Tel Aviv, taking the two-day decline to 1.7 percent, the most since the two days ending May 14. The currency is today the fifth-worst performer among an expanded list of 31 major currencies tracked by Bloomberg. Israel’s TA-25 benchmark stock index slumped 2.4 percent to 1,156.19, the lowest level since Sept. 23.

Foreign investors are shunning Israeli assets on concern that a possible U.S. attack on Syria will include Israel in an escalation,” said Moshe Nir, a trader at Mercantile Discount Bank Ltd. in Tel Aviv.