Israelis hastily flock to refresh gas masks

"The IDF wishes to stress that there is no change in its assessment, and it has taken no steps out of the routine," the Israeli army spokesman announced Tuesday. Soothing words for some, but for many it meant to rush, uninvited to the Home Front Command's gas mask distribution centers.

It was a true microcosm of the emotional roller coaster Israelis ride: waking to threats of war, having lunch with promises of peace, and dinner with tanks rolling into Jerusalem neighborhoods.

Early afternoon at the Jerusalem Mall, the protection kit distribution center was packed with people, each waiting over 90 minutes to refresh his or her gas mask kits.

Usually the command summons about 4,000 people a day to update their protection kits and about half usually show up, Col. Golan Gilad said.

But they started to get waves of telephone inquires on their hot line and realized that the public was hungry for protection. Gilad said the protection kit division they used it as an opportunity.

Two days ago, some 6,000 people updated their protective kits -- three times the normal number and none of them were even summoned. Yesterday, the crowds converged on the stations, but started to thin once an agreement was announced.