Israel to Redistribute Gas Masks Amid Fears of War with Iran
以警惕伊朗再向全民发放防毒面具
Israel is strengthening security on its home front in a sign of war jitters. Israel is casting a wary eye toward Iran.
以色列在紧张的战争气氛中正在加强国内的安全防卫工作。以色列正在警惕地盯着伊朗。
Israel's security Cabinet has decided to redistribute gas masks to the entire population amid fears of a non-conventional war with Iran. The last distribution was before the U.S. invasion of Iraq four years ago. The gas masks were collected last year because they were out of date.
Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai initiated the redistribution.
这次发放防毒面具的工作由以色列国防部副部长维尔奈发起。
Vilnai told Israel Radio that handing out gas masks does not mean that war with Iran is imminent.
维尔奈对以色列电台说,发放防毒面具并不意味着以色列马上要和伊朗打仗。
Nevertheless, there is growing concern here about Iran's nuclear program and threats by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to wipe Israel "off the map."
"We are worried," said Israeli spokesman Mark Regev.
以色列发言人雷格夫说:“我们对此感到担忧。”
Iran insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. But Regev says Iran is stalling in negotiations with the international community as it moves closer to building a nuclear bomb.
"We are concerned that the Iranian strategy is very clear," he said. "They want to keep talking and talking and talking, but at the same time to aggressively move forward on their nuclear program."
Iran is seen as an existential threat, and that has raised speculation that Israel might launch a pre-emptive strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. Israeli officials have warned time and again that they will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons and that there is a military option.