SPECIAL REPORT-The Gulf War
SERVINQ NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1920 Vol. LXVM No. 20 OlMlM, Nobr
10 StMvit, S781 Friday, JMI. 26,1991
SCUDs blast Tel Aviv
By Hugh Orgel reiterated that finding Iraq's mobile SCUD launchers TEL AVIV (JTA)-Life in Israel waa just beginning continues to be a "high priority." to return to normal when a SCUD missile with a conIraq's use of decoy launchers has complicated this ventional, hij^i-explosive warhead caused extensive task, but not made it "insurmountable," he said. casualties and severe damage in the Greater Tel Aviv Kelly observed that Iraq's cmly response in the war area Tuesday evening. so far had been the use of SCUDs against Saudi Arabia An Israel Defense Force spokesman said at least 100 and Israel He maintained the mia^ is "more a tertot were injured, and Israel Radio reported that three peo- weapon than anything else" and has no military significance. ple had died, two of heart attacks. The IDF 8p<Aeeman warned that fatalities could inIlie IDF refosed to kieotify the area of impact of Tuescrease as rescue workers dig through debris in search day's SCUD attack, because the information coukl hdp of people trai^Md under the wreckage. the Iraqi missile battery commanders. About 20 bouses were reported destroyed or damaged, Also in the dark was the functioning of the U.S. Paincluding a three-story residential building demolished triot anti-missile batteries deployed in and around Tel by a dii«ct hit Aviv as protection against incoming SCUDs. Two Windows were broken over a wkle area. There was ex- Patriot missiles were heard being launched within sectensive damage to electrical and telephone lines, water onds after the air raid sirens sounded. pipelinso and cooUng^as cylinders. The attack was the first Iraqi missile barrage against IDF spokesman Nachman Shai described the attack Israel since the Patriot batteriee, operated by U.S. as the most serious of the three SCUD salvos fired at Army crews, were declared operational late Saturday. Israel since the war against Iraq began last week.
Exwdmi mMnt
"...bruUHmt..." In Wttkimgktm, tits WhOs Hewee immti a statsMent mndwBBingth»n^si<liaiaaHH«>a"bratMactoftsr r«r against famocmt victims." "Tbs lataat Iraqi misaile attack oo Israel is a eontinued example of Iraq's uqvovQksd aggreaskn agahist its neighbors," saU the statement, iasued by White House spokesman Marlin Fitswatar. Israel's ambassador to the United States, Zalman Shoval, called the missile raid' 'a terrorist bomb attack on a peaceful civilian population of a country which is not at war with Iraq. "This, by the way, constitutes a war crime under intematianal law," IM sakL But Shoval stressed that if Israel deddee to retaliate, it will not because it wants retribution. "lUa is not a matter of an eye for an eye," the envoy said. "It is a matter of how to act in the best way in order to defend our population and in order to prevaot further attacks in the future." Shoval conqtarod what Israel is enduring to the blitz of Loodon during World War II and said Israel's populatkm was reepooding "magnificently."
SCUOiiprlority At a Pentagon briefing TuewUy, U. Oen. Thomas Kelly, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
Israel has so far Mfrafoad fi«B tataUation, apparently •I the urging of the United^»taa.rtiMi ijiimed tiw PataintohsraAomiteetaolfpae in Germany. But Prini*Miaia«r VitiM ahu*caBid«iMlfaig of the Cabinet for early Wednesday momiiig, and the ministera discussed an Israeli reqMOse to Tuesday's attack. Israeli Health Minister Ehud Olmcrt was quoted as telling the BBC, "It is not a question of whether Israel will retaliate, but when and how." Tueaday's attack came just as Israelis were beginning to feel safe again. After four days of virtual cui^, Israelis were toU they could return to work Tuesday, though schools remained dosed. The first SCUD missiles struck Israel early last Friday momhig and a second round hit early Saturday. Thiqr caused conaUerable property damage, but relatively Ught injuries. However, three ekkrly women died of heart attacks and a 3-yearold child was asphyxiated aa she raaisted putting on a gas maak. A]l of the SCUDs carried conventional warheads. There were no signs of a chemical weapons attack. The first reports of casualties Tuesday were btigmentary. Ichilov Hoapital in Tel Aviv said thrse or four people ware given swigical tnattnent for minor iqjuriea, appar entiy the removal of glass qtUnters or shrapnel
The IDF spokesman urged the public to avoid the impact site, so as not to hamper rescue efforts. The public also was cautioned not to collect missile fragments found on the ground, because they are needed for research and investigation. The first signs of Tuesday's SCUD attack came at about 8:46 p.m. local time Tuesday, when air raid siiCna sounded all over Israel An IDF spokesman aaid aa Israel Radio 10 minutes later that the pqnilation north of Netanya and south of Risium le-Zion, induding Jerusalem, could remove their gas masks and leave the gas-proofed rooms in their homes. "^ Residents of the Greater Td Aviv area were instructed to remain in their shelters and wear their gas masks. But thoee instructions were soon canceled and an all-dear sounded siKutly afterward.
Supportengtther In New Yorii, abmit 60 supporters of Israd gathered Tuesday evening in 18-degree weather outsick the Israeli Mtask>n to UM United Natkms in a hastily arranged show of caneem rtd aoiklarity. "It's K tad nigh^ ilBl4r«i." iMBariud Uriel Savir, Israel's Consul gaag^alfajfay Y«k, as Michael Mi)ler, exedidvv^dMMNraraNf MM^ dommunlty Relations Council, led the erowd in a redtation of psalms. "Why are we here? Weara here for the people, tilevi^ tims and the fiteids" of Israel, tab! Malcolm Hoenlein, executive director of the Confereooe of Pnaidenta of Major American Jewish Organizatims. He announced that the heads of most of the confer enoe's 46 constituent groups WoaiA fly to Israd this weekend on a missim to "stand in solklarity with the govonment and people of Israel." Amona thoee in the shivering crowd was Sam Finkel a d6-yea^kl teacher who waa carrying a yahrxait candle. "I have a slater in Israel, and I feel a Ut guilty that people are there," he said. "I have to do my bit tm this side of the ocean." "It's important not to be ailent and to show all the support we can," said Judith Lahn, a 26-year-old artist "It's a terrible atrodty that innocent people are being killed and victimiaed in a situation they should not be involved in anyway. "And tiiey are bdng told to ait on tiieir haada and not defend Utaoisalvw," she added. "No other human being woaU be asked not to react when in danger." (Contributing to tUa report mn JTA eorraapoadsnta DavM PyMmaa in Waah^llSB aMl Aliaa Maraw at the United Nations.)
I Missile attacic may baclcfire By David FMedaun WASHINGTON g[TA)-Iraqi Preeklent Saddam Huaaain's attenwt to draw Israel into the Persian Gulf by attacking Tel Aviv and Haifa wlUi SCUD missiles has resulted instead in bringing laraei and the United Stataa eloair than they have been aince the Buah adMaMntka took ofliee two years ago. ' laraal'a restraint in not retaliating immediately when the SCUD missUea hit Tel Aviv last Friday and Satur [iday mowfags could bring aignificant rewards when the •war i« ended. This ooold not only mean approval of Israeli reqneets rfor increased military and aconomk aid, but leas presilurs and more U.S. backing for larael when the MUdle iBast peace prooeee resumes. ^ At a White House news conference. Bush eqnvesed warm appreciation of Israel's restraint since Iraq invaded Kuwait on Auf. 2. I "I appreciate larael'a reetraint from the onset," he •aU. ; "Really from the vary beginning of this orlsia, Prime
Minister (Yitahsk) Shamir and hie government have Buah has nudtttaiBsd with Israeli Prime Minister Yitshown great understanding for the intereets of the Un^ ihak Shandr since UM first misailee fell on IsrasL ted Statee, the intereets of others involved, the coaliBuah called the Israeli premier once on Friday after tion." his news conferenoe and twice Saturday. "I imdarstand tha anguiah i>f jrow paopie and your UiHknUindlng affpndtt9d govwBfflsiit," Bosh wu rsporteid to h«v* said hi the The Israeli understanding is appreciated throughout third of Ua phone calls. TIM prsaidaat urpd roatrai|t Waahington, Rep. Stephen Solan (D-N. Y.) sakl in an ap- on larael and saki that the United Stataa sttd iU oodtioaMitners were doing evsrythiag to find the rngudnpearance Sunday on NBC-TV's "Meet Uie Prses." ing SCUD miasile mobile launehen and knock them out
NiVBr b$w Mgh§r "I think Israel'a atock, botii in the White House and Congreea, have probably never been higher than it is at preemt," Solan sabl "HM remarkable reetraint they have demonstrated in choosing, at least ao far, not to retaliate againat Iraq, in spite of Saddam's brutal and unprovdted attack against their population OMiter, hu generated oonakler able appreciation.and approval in Waahington." •lUaaktitade ahn can be seen in the doee contact
Admin nttnint "We admire Uieir resiraint^ and we have said all akng that we hoped they wouU continue to ahow roetraint" White House spokesman Marlin PItswater aaid Saturday. In an effort to encourage the reetraint, the United Statee ruahed several batteriee of Patriot misoilea to larael on Saturday, to be operated by U.S. troopa until ' !