Caution is still the name of the game. Defense and military experts who met in the Defense Minister's office this morning concluded that the war in Iraq has not yet ended, that the danger of Iraqi missiles being launched towards Israel still exists, and that therefore the level of alert remains as it was.
Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz accepted the IDF recommendations not to downgrade the level of preparedness, in light of the fact that the Americans do not have total control over western Iraq from where Scuds can still reach Israel. "There is a difference between what is seen on television and the reality in Iraq," Mofaz said afterwards. "The pillars of Iraqi strength are crumbling, but the war continues."
A Defense Ministry announcement says that Israeli citizens and residents are asked to continue to keep their gas masks close to them and have their sealed rooms in readiness. The vast majority of Israelis have not been taking their gas masks with them for most of the duration of the current war.