The American-led offensive against the Iraqi regime has already had several local effects and fallout, beyond the ubiquitous gas masks and sealed rooms. Both Israelis and Arab residents of the Palestinian Authority have been feeling the pressure of the Iraq war, with each reacting in their own way.
In Israel, there have been at least twelve cases of accidental injections with the atropine shots included with every Israeli's personal gas mask kit. Many of those who injected themselves with atropine misunderstood information provided in the media, acted out of panic, or did so accidentally. Many of the victims were children.
At Ashkelon's Barzalai Hospital alone, three victims of accidental atropine injection arrived at the emergency room in one day. The patients were all children under six years old. Similarly, in Jerusalem, a 6-year-old child was treated in the emergency room of Jerusalem's Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital and released following several hours of observation. All of the children treated were reported in good condition early last night.
IDF Home Front Command officials continue to call on parents to educate children not to tamper with the atropine auto injector found in the gas mask kits.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon also called on Thursday for calm and a continued effort by Israelis to maintain a normal daily routine. He stressed that while preparedness remains high, the threat of a missile attack was low. The prime minister also issued a stern warning to Arab terrorist organizations not to attempt to take advantage of the current situation, saying that if Israel is attacked, she would know how to defend herself.
The effects of the Iraq war on the Arabs of the Palestinian Authority have been of a different variety. In Ramallah on Thursday afternoon, yet another pro-Iraq rally took place. Saddam Hussein, it will be recalled, paid out thousands of dollars to the families of terrorists and has periodically mentioned "Palestine" in his more belligerent public statements. Ironically, it appears that a 34-year-old resident of PA-controlled Jenin, a bus driver, was the first fatality in the ongoing war against Iraq. He was killed in the US shelling early Thursday morning.
In a related item, a new song is taking the Arab world by storm. Particularly popular in Jordan and the PA, it is called "Leave Iraq Alone" and its subject is the American-led offensive against Saddam Hussein's regime. Among its more choice lines: "If you are looking for weapons, go to Israel. There you'll find Sharon drowning in a Jacuzzi, filled with the blood of Palestinians."
In Israel, there have been at least twelve cases of accidental injections with the atropine shots included with every Israeli's personal gas mask kit. Many of those who injected themselves with atropine misunderstood information provided in the media, acted out of panic, or did so accidentally. Many of the victims were children.
At Ashkelon's Barzalai Hospital alone, three victims of accidental atropine injection arrived at the emergency room in one day. The patients were all children under six years old. Similarly, in Jerusalem, a 6-year-old child was treated in the emergency room of Jerusalem's Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital and released following several hours of observation. All of the children treated were reported in good condition early last night.
IDF Home Front Command officials continue to call on parents to educate children not to tamper with the atropine auto injector found in the gas mask kits.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon also called on Thursday for calm and a continued effort by Israelis to maintain a normal daily routine. He stressed that while preparedness remains high, the threat of a missile attack was low. The prime minister also issued a stern warning to Arab terrorist organizations not to attempt to take advantage of the current situation, saying that if Israel is attacked, she would know how to defend herself.
The effects of the Iraq war on the Arabs of the Palestinian Authority have been of a different variety. In Ramallah on Thursday afternoon, yet another pro-Iraq rally took place. Saddam Hussein, it will be recalled, paid out thousands of dollars to the families of terrorists and has periodically mentioned "Palestine" in his more belligerent public statements. Ironically, it appears that a 34-year-old resident of PA-controlled Jenin, a bus driver, was the first fatality in the ongoing war against Iraq. He was killed in the US shelling early Thursday morning.
In a related item, a new song is taking the Arab world by storm. Particularly popular in Jordan and the PA, it is called "Leave Iraq Alone" and its subject is the American-led offensive against Saddam Hussein's regime. Among its more choice lines: "If you are looking for weapons, go to Israel. There you'll find Sharon drowning in a Jacuzzi, filled with the blood of Palestinians."