Israeli reactor at Dimona leaking radiation

[Sarevok]

Link

[Stormbringer]

Egh, I'd be more interested if it was a bit less partial source.

[Xenophobe3691]

Next time, please post the article as well:

There's no need to quote the entire article, especially when they're an open site and the article is long ~ Shaidar Haran

[Patrick Degan]

From the AP wire, via The Boston Herald:

Israel begins distribution of radiation protection pills in towns near nuclear reactor
By Associated Press
Sunday, August 8, 2004

DIMONA, Israel - Israeli soldiers began distributing radiation sickness pills Sunday in towns near one of Israel's two nuclear reactors, as a precautionary measure in case of radioactive leaks.

Security officials said the tablets have long been held in storage for distribution in case of emergency, but after two years of talks with Israel's Atomic Energy Commission, the Cabinet recently decided that those in risk areas should have the pills at home, to cut down on reaction time in the event of an accident.

Distribution began Sunday in Dimona, where one reactor is located, and in other nearby towns and villages in southern Israel's Negev desert, a military statement said. Security officials said a further round was planned at a later date for the area near the Nahal Sorek plant, southwest of Jerusalem.

Dimona resident Tali Peretz told Israel Army Radio the distribution should have been ordered years ago.

``It shouldn't take a committee two years to reach the very simple conclusion that it is not possible at a moment of crisis distribute the tablets to almost 200,000 residents,'' she said.

The pills are an iodine compound that blocks absorption of radioactive material by shutting down the thyroid gland.

The army statement made a point of stressing the safeguards surrounding Israeli nuclear facilities.

``Reactors in Israel are operated and maintained in accordance with the highest safety standard and are continuously supervised by professionals,'' it said.

Israel has had nuclear technology for decades but refuses to comment on reports it has nuclear bombs, saying only that it will not be the first country to introduce nuclear weapons to the region.

In 1986, former Dimona technician Mordechai Vanunu provided photographs and descriptions of the reactor to The Sunday Times of London. Based on Vanunu's material, experts said at the time that Israel has the world's sixth-largest stockpile of nuclear weapons.

Vanunu was released in April after serving 18 years in an Israeli prison for treason. He remains subject to restrictions, including a ban on meeting foreigners and leaving the country.


( © Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Looks like they're anticipating trouble.

[Stormbringer]

Looks like they're anticipating trouble.

Actually, it sounds like they simply changed the standard procedure in response to public pressure. There's no indication that there's real trouble going on in that article just that policy has changed.

The other one sounds mostly like BS Arab propoganda.

[Patrick Degan]

Looks like they're anticipating trouble.

Actually, it sounds like they simply changed the standard procedure in response to public pressure. There's no indication that there's real trouble going on in that article just that policy has changed.

I'm not so sure. The usual government reaction —any government— to popular unrest around a nuke plant is simply to bullshit their way out of it. Plus, Dimona is old. If they're actually going through the trouble and expense to distribute antiradiation pills, it's because somebody in the Ministry isn't willing to bet his career on mere rhetoric wallpapering over concerns for safety connected to a nuclear reactor which is at the end of its service life.

[Stormbringer]

I'm not so sure. The usual government reaction —any government— to popular unrest around a nuke plant is simply to bullshit their way out of it.

That's government SOP for most situations. However the fact is it seems there's considerable public pressure behind this and it's a relatively small step to take.

Plus, Dimona is old. If they're actually going through the trouble and expense to distribute antiradiation pills, it's because somebody in the Ministry isn't willing to bet his career on mere rhetoric wallpapering over concerns for safety connected to a nuclear reactor which is at the end of its service life.

Maybe they are hedging their bets and maybe they're just giving people what they want. Either way that's a far cry from an actual radiation leak taking place.

[Patrick Degan]

I'm not so sure. The usual government reaction —any government— to popular unrest around a nuke plant is simply to bullshit their way out of it.

That's government SOP for most situations. However the fact is it seems there's considerable public pressure behind this and it's a relatively small step to take.

Plus, Dimona is old. If they're actually going through the trouble and expense to distribute antiradiation pills, it's because somebody in the Ministry isn't willing to bet his career on mere rhetoric wallpapering over concerns for safety connected to a nuclear reactor which is at the end of its service life.

Maybe they are hedging their bets and maybe they're just giving people what they want. Either way that's a far cry from an actual radiation leak taking place.

Possibly.

[Stormbringer]

Plus, Dimona is old. If they're actually going through the trouble and expense to distribute antiradiation pills, it's because somebody in the Ministry isn't willing to bet his career on mere rhetoric wallpapering over concerns for safety connected to a nuclear reactor which is at the end of its service life.

Maybe they are hedging their bets and maybe they're just giving people what they want. Either way that's a far cry from an actual radiation leak taking place.

Possibly.

A leak is possible. But the leap from pills that the community wants to a radiation leak already taking place is a bit far on mere supposition.

[Patrick Degan]

Maybe they are hedging their bets and maybe they're just giving people what they want. Either way that's a far cry from an actual radiation leak taking place.

Possibly.

A leak is possible. But the leap from pills that the community wants to a radiation leak already taking place is a bit far on mere supposition.

I agree; hence my citing the AP newswire story instead of relying on the Al-Jazerra article. There is, as yet, no outside confirmation that Dimona is suffering a radiation leak.

[Stormbringer]

I agree; hence my citing the AP newswire story instead of relying on the Al-Jazerra article. There is, as yet, no outside confirmation that Dimona is suffering a radiation leak.

Okay, then it was just a bit of a misunderstanding.

[Ender]

I wish they'd give the amount and type. Hell, if it's filtered core water pass me a glass. Give it a few seconds for the nitrogen to decay and you're set. If it's crud, how much in volume, how much in contamination? Is it BG contamination? How much and what's the halflife?
It's not a FEF, that would be front page headline on USA Today.

[Ace Pace]

Okey, apart from the rethoric from the arabic source, anyone got more info, because i'm quite near to Dimona, in world terms.


Also, people keep forgetting we have 2 of those power plants, dimona is for the military, and we have another one making power, not a large one, but an actully civilian one.