Israel has insisted that it is prepared for an Iraqi attack that could come as retaliation for any US military action against the Arab state.
Military chief Lt Gen Moshe Yaalon, shrugged off media reports of a lack of gas masks and bomb shelters for the civilian population, insisting that Israelis are the "most protected in the world" against non-conventional attacks.
Government officials say about one-fourth of the Israeli population did not yet have updated gas masks but said that it was only a matter of time.
The masks will also be given to foreign workers and tourists.
Israel began preparing for several attack scenarios soon after September 11th, when the United States announced a war against terrorism.
"We started to get ready for the terror like that which attacked on September 11th or that which would come from irresponsible parties in the region, like Iraq and Hezbollah," Lt Gen Yaalon told Army radio.
"And actually now we are on a very high level of preparation, so we won't be surprised."
The Haaretz newspaper reported today that Iraq may call on Palestinian militant groups to strike down planes taking off from Israel's Ben Gurion Airport.
At least one Palestinian group, the Arab Liberation Front, is funded by Baghdad and takes orders from Hussein.
The group tried last year to carry out such an attack against the airport but was caught by Israeli security.
PA