February Monday 7-2000:
Sunday Times: Close Dimona nuclear facility (1)
"According to a Sunday Times report, quoting Professor Uzi Eben, a
former senior official in Israels nuclear program, Eben is calling for the
immediate closure of the facility which poses serious dangers and is not safe,
and may lead to another Chernobyl. Eben is calling for a start of the process
which would lead to the shutting of the facility at the very least.
The Times quotes Israeli scientists calling for the shutting of the facility
which they deem unsafe, to prevent A second Chernobyl.
The daily Yediot Ahronot reports that experts have pointed out the Dimona
facility began operating in 1960, and the nuclear plant is now approaching 40
years of operation. Yediot adds that experts report that facilities as old as
Dimona are being shut around the world due to the dangers they pose to the area
residents and environment.
Eben, quoted by Yediot, stated that the operations at the facility have
contributed to its aging process, adding that although it is not
comparable with the Chernobyl facility prior to the meltdown, it does pose a
significant threat to the area and must be shut to avert a catastrophe.
Among problems, which may be encountered according to Eben, is leakage of
radioactive water used to cool the facility, difficulty in controlling the
facility. The Times adds that in addition to Eben, another prominent member of
the scientific community who remains anonymous added his name to those calling
for the shutting of the facility, explaining that the prolonged exposure of the
structure to the radiation has rendered it prone to a disaster and has
compromised it integrity.