NEWS PLO Transcript Exposed As Hoax A Classic for Now and Future Time. Washington (JTA) — Army Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf s spokesman has dismissed - as a "hoax" a Palestine Liberation Organ- ization transcript that quotes him as saying U.S. forces fought Iraq "for Israel." The transcript, which has the four-star general making disparaging comments about Saudi Arabia's role in the war, was obtained by Hassan Abu Rahman, direc- tor of the Arab League's Palestine office here. Mr. Rahman forwarded it to the National Association of Arab- Americans, which then provided it to the Hearst News Service. The PLO said the Schwar- zkopf interview was con- ducted by Israeli Army Radio, but it denies it ever interviewed Gen. Schwar- zkopf. Army Maj. Olin Saunders, a spokesman at the U.S. Central Command in Tam- The Movado® Sapphire Museum Watch. _ A futuristic interpretation of the legendary design: The Movado Sapphire Museum Watch. A synthetic sapphire crystal forms the front of the watch. Water-resistant, electronic quartz. Calfskin strap. In all black, or in 18 karat gold micron finish. Swiss-crafted. 32940 Middlebelt Rd. IDF Backs War Gas Masks 855-1730 (At 14 Mile Rd., in the Broadway Plaza) JEWELERS Custom Designed Jewelry to Your Taste HOURS: Mon-Fri 10-6 Thur 10-7:30 Sat 10-5 MIKE SCHLUSSEL Summer Clearance SALE GUARANTEED! I WILL BEAT ANY DEAL! CAR PHONE AVAILABLE. ASK FOR DETAILS. TAMAROFF DODGE 12 Mile west of Telegraph 354-6600 22 FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 1991 pa, Fla., told Hearst, "This interview did not take place. It is a hoax." Ruth Yaron, the Israeli Embassy spokeswoman, called the transcript "a cheap and desperate ploy by unnamed adversaries who would use any measure to drive a wedge between Israel and the United States." Referring to "anyone who would fabricate something like that and embarrass our friend (Yassir Arafat)," Mr. Rahman said that such a person "would not be in a good position." He added that reports about the purported phony interview have been "blown out of proportion. It does not deserve all this attention." "I believe that whether they fought for Israel or not, it is a beneficiary of this war," Mr. Rahman added. "The Israelis say so. The Americans agree that this war served the interests of Israel." Tel Aviv (JTA) — The Israel Defense Force has defended the quality of the gas masks issued as protec- tion against chemical attack by Iraq in the Persian Gulf war and denied a report that it plans to replace them. "Preliminary findings in- dicate that most of the masks may actually be used longer than originally planned," an IDF spokes- man said. "The IDF wishes to re- iterate that the protective equipment issued to citizens of Israel is reliable and pro- vides adequate defense," the statement added. But the Israeli daily Ha'aretz claimed the IDF plans to recall 5 million masks as a result of a study it undertook with the Haifa Technion Institute of Technology to check their ef- ficiency. A sampling of 2,500 gas masks was tested to see if their use during the war had reduced their effectiveness. According to Ha'aretz, the study, begun two months ago, found that repeated use significantly reduced the level of protection. The gas masks were donned every time an air raid alert sound- ed during the seven-week war. "The study shows that there is a need to replace all mask outlets. Therefore, it is our duty to give the entire population new or repaired masks," Ha'aretz said, quoting what it described as an official military.au- thority. The newspaper claimed that exposure to perspira- tion or other moisture significantly damaged air outlets, which became clogg- A study found that repeated use significantly reduced the level of protection. ed and needed to be replaced. The mask study was or- dered after State Comp- troller Miriam Ben-Porat issued a report following the war, charging that the gas masks and other protective equipment issued to civilians were substandard and in many cases ineffec- tive. They were never tested under combat conditions be- cause none of the 39 Iraqi Scud missiles fired at Israel during the war carried chemical warheads.