On December 23 Saddam Hussein told Spanish Television that if war breaks out, Tel Aviv will be among Iraq 's first targets. A day later Prime Minister Shamir threatened that if Israel is attacked, it will retaliate. The IDF was placed on alert. Distribution of gas masks was completed and Israelis were told how to deal with chemical weapons attacks. When the war finally did break out, Israel announced that it will not become involved unless attacked On Friday, 18 January 1991, eight Scud missiles were fired at Israel from Western Iraq. One missile fell on a two-story residential building in Tel-Aviv; another fell on a factory. A third missile fell in the Haifa area. A day later, four missiles were launched at Israel. Three exploded in populated areas injuring 16 civilians. Three missiles fell in the greater Tel Aviv area. Israel decided not to respond by military force. It acceded to the American request that it does not retaliate and also agreed to the stationing of American personnel to man Patriot ground-to-air missiles on Israeli territory. The U.S. did not want an Israeli involvement lest it create difficulties for the anti-Iraqi coalition. Even before the war Israel told the U.S. that while it could not undertake not to retaliate indefinitely, it would consult the U.S. In the following communique the prime minister explained why Israel chose to bring an end to the Scud attacks through political means. Text:
At the weekly cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 20.1.91:
1. The war in the Gulf was the attack on Israel:
A. The defense minister, the chief of staff and the head of military intelligence briefed the cabinet on developments in the Gulf war, preparations in the country's interior and contacts with the U.S. regarding the war.
B. The police minister and the police inspector-general briefed the cabinet on ongoing matters.
C. The deputy prime minister and foreign minister briefed the cabinet on political matters and described the expressions of support from numerous countries all over the world which were relayed to Israel following the missile attacks.
D. The health minister described the preparations of the health system during the missile attack.
E. The absorption minister briefed the cabinet on the continuing immigration to Israel despite the war.
2. The prime minister noted that while we have been tested with many form of confrontation with Arab countries - wars, terrorism, economic boycotts, political attacks - we had yet to be tested by a missile attack which came from a country with which we have no common border. Yet the defense establishment recently increased its preparedness and ability to deal with these dangers. The war has not yet ended and the government policy on it, remains to protect the security of Israel's citizens while dealing with the problems and searching for their solutions. In this framework, Israel is doing everything possible through political and defense means to limit the danger of attacks on its citizens without giving up its principals. The government hopes that the present situation will not go on for long and believes that the people of Israel are displaying courage and strength.
3. The cabinet is working toward returning the country to a state of normal functioning as soon as possible, obviously with consideration of the situation.
4. The cabinet authorized the deputy prime minister and the foreign minister or those authorized by them, to sign, subject to ratification, the following two agreements:
A. An agreement between the United States and Israel on the status of American military forces personnel staying in Israel.
B. An agreement between Israel and the United States on the standing of IDF personnel staying in the United States.
5. The cabinet ratified a cooperation agreement in the field of health between Israel and Hungary.