What will be left in the mind's eye after the calendar year has turned the corner and 2002 has been ushered in?
One is the magnificent and heart-warming human response of New Yorkers in the aftermath of the Twin Towers
disaster. The other is the indomitable spirit of Israelis, who endured bereavement in the aftermath of the
unspeakable crimes of terror inflicted upon children and civilians.
The prospects for 2002 are hopeful but far from cheerful. Mainly what is lacking is the customary "end of the year
confidence" that the New Year should bring greater tranquility and prosperity.
Americans, for the first time in history are exposed to life in the shadow of possible renewed terror attacks. No
one knows what they could be but American officials suggest a prospect of biochemical attacks, including the
poisoning of the water supply, the spread of the smallpox virus and the use of finely powdered anthrax, a small
amount of which is assumed to be able to kill hundreds of thousands. As a result, a variety of possible
technologies are being examined with which to counter anticipated new attacks.
A painful blow to Israel's aviation was inflicted in the 1950s when a civilian El Al Airlines plane fell prey to
terrorists. The loss of life was appalling. The Israeli response was to install novel anti-terror measures that are
being used to this day. These have proved effective as El Al has been flying since then without any further
breaches of security. Measures used by El Al are being implemented now by other air lines.
Israeli security officials now in the United States are assisting America's airlines. Air marshals, as on El Al
planes, will shortly be stationed on all airline flights. Special armored security doors are being installed to
protect the pilot and navigators from intruders.
Americans are keen to move ahead with their own war on terror and to adopt measures to thwart loss of life and
property, abroad and at home.
Israel is openly making its know-how available . This is happening in real time. One Israeli system for detecting
explosives being carried by a terrorist intent on boarding a plane, is sophisticated in form but simple to apply.
The product's main advantage is that it detects explosive substances from a distance and without the necessity
for contact.
Discussions are underway, IHTIR has been told, to form a strategic partnership with an unnamed American
company. This is happening while Israeli intelligence sources are warning its Government of more plans by
Palestinian terror groups to attack targets within Israel. The response is to rush anti-terror products, based on
defense technologies, from the laboratory into the field. These counter-terror products and techniques are
constructed to withstand atomic, biological and nuclear terror threats. Israel's water supply, for one example, is
vulnerable to biological attack in a section of this country's National Water Carrier, which is open and exposed
to easy attack, and can be easily polluted. A biosensor that could be applied to detecting chemical warfare
agents and other toxins in public water supplies has been developed by
Dr. Robert Marks and his team in Ben-Gurion University Institute for Applied Biosciences. It could prove the
answer for a quick and effective warning system against biological attack.(IHTIR 1/2002)
Newspaper reports suggest that the Israel Institute of Biology has developed what is the world's second anthrax
vaccine.
The "War Against Terror", that is constantly waged by Israel, is decades old and an integral part of everyday life.
When this War, only recently turned global, is ultimately won, people throughout the world will be able to return
to a less stressful life style and dedicate themselves to peaceful pursuits. We wish a Happy and Peaceful New
Year to our many friends throughout the world.