GAS MASKS AT FACTORY; MAN DEMONSTRATING GAS MASKS; GAS MASKS LOADED ABROAD AIRLINER.




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Background: AN ISRAELI AIRLINER LEFT FRANKFURT TODAY (SATURDAY) FOR TEL AVIV WITH 20,000 GAS MASKS FOR THE PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS IN THE EVENT OF AN ARAB GAS ATTACK. THE SALE OF THE GAS MASKS, AT ABOUT 71 MARKS EACH (ABOUT GBP7), WAS DECIDED ON FOR HUMANITARIAN REASONS BY THE WEST GERMANY CABINET ON THURSDAY.

ISRAELI'S REQUEST FOR THE MASKS WAS MADE 11 DAYS AGO BUT THE DECISION TO PROVIDE THEM WAS DELAYED FOLLOWING OPPOSITION FROM DEFENCE MINISTER GERHARD SCHROEDER.

HE ARGUED THAT THEIR DESPATCH WOULD BREAK WEST GERMANY'S NATO COMMITMENT NOT TO SUPPLY WAR MATERIAL TO AREAS OF TENSION. BUT THE CABINET RULED THAT THE MASKS COULD NOT BE CLASSIFIED AS WEAPONS.

IT WAS ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT THE JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR TO BONN, KAMIL EL SHERIF, HAD BEEN RECALLED TO JORDAN FOR CONSULTATIONS AFTER ARRIVING IN BONN ONLY LAST WEEK FOLLOWING THE RESUMPTION OF TIES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.

THE DECISION TO SUPPLY GAS MASKS TO ISRAEL HAS BEEN ATTACKED IN CAIRO BY THE ARAB LEAGUE'S ASSISTANT SECRETARY SAYED NOFAL. HE ACCUSED WEST GERMANY OF HELPING TO SPREAD LIES THAT ARABS USED POISON GAS BY TRYING TO JUSTIFY THE ACTION FOR HUMANITARIAN REASONS.

MR. NOFAL SAID THE LEAGUE SECRETARIAT WAS CONTACTING ARAB MEMBER STATES ON THE ISSUE IN PARTICULAR THOSE WHICH MAINTAINED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH BONN. THE MOVE CONFIRMED WEST GERMAN SUBMISSION TO THE UNITED STATES AND INTERNATIONAL ZIONISM, HE SAID.