Some Israeli students here last night reacted positively to the U.S.-led attack on Iraq.

"President Bush shows full determination in the objectives he and the United Nations (set)," said Amit Mor, president of the Penn State Israeli Association.

"I hope the international coalition led by the United States will succeed to destroy Saddam Hussein as soon as possible."

Rafi Mandlebaum, an Israeli graduate student, commended the attack: "I think they are fighting for a good cause -- if anything is a good cause."

Another Israeli student was pleased by the attack because she said peace is needed in the Middle East, but added, "I hope that everybody will be safe."

Mor, who tried to pick up Israeli radio signals from a shortwave radio, said he phoned his family and woke them after learning of the attack. They were unharmed, he said, but Israeli radio told citizens to stay indoors, open their poison gas kits and listen to the radio.

Mor said he hopes few lives will be lost in the conflict and that Iraq does not attack Israel.

Last week, Iraq's Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz said Iraq would attack Israel if Iraq were attacked first.

"I hope Saddam Hussein won't attack Israel," Mor said, who returned from Israel four days ago. "If he should do so, Israel will probably join in the effort to destroy him."

It is unusual for Israel to not participate in fighting in the Middle East, Mandelbaum said.

He said he was shocked the attack came so soon after the Jan. 15 deadline.

"We are as surprised as anybody," he said. "We didn't expect it as promptly as it came."