Israelis have clearly taken the threat of an Iranian war seriously: the latest public awareness campaign, featuring the Israeli muppet on its cover, is reminiscent of those in the US during the height of the Cold War.
The pamphlet follows several weeks of what seems to be an escalation in public safety measures suggesting Israel is gearing up for a conflict with Iran. The two countries have spent years making threatening noises at each other but an awareness campaign en masse is new for the Jewish state.
Israelis who follow the leaflet’s advice will be bunkering down in their safe room or emergency shelter when the Iranian rockets come. And the 1960s comparisons don’t end there. The Israeli muppet also recommends a ‘family talk’ to get ready for a national emergency.
Helpfully, the muppet tells citizens to avoid the war chat at a time when other family issues are on their mind:
“It should not be held after a family argument or when you are agitated about some other pressing matter," it advises.
The political rhetoric has also stepped up a notch, with Israeli politicians actively threatening Iranian nuclear facilities. Earlier this month, gas masks and other protective gear were distributed to Israeli households.
An all-out conflict between the two powers would be catastrophic for the region. Many have accused both Israel and Iran of empty threats, given how dire the consequences would be for both their countries.
Israeli military sources have tried to play down the latest public awareness campaign as part of a broader initiative on emergency precautions:
"There are always innovations the public needs to know about, it doesn't mean anything is going to happen today, tomorrow or the next day," the source said.
However, the pamphlet takes a more urgent tone: Israelis, the booklet says, would have a maximum of three minutes to run to safety between the first air raid siren and the time of rockets hitting their area.
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