Burying Nuclear Waste in the Palestinian Territories

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Palestinian farmers from Yatta village south of Hebron in the West Bank have revealed that the Israeli military continues to bury nuclear waste in their farmlands at Al-Masafer near the armistice line in the West Bank. The farmers said that the military forces “IDF” brings trucks loaded with waste suspected to be radioactive waste and is burying it in their lands after they force them to evacuate the area.

The farmers said that they were able to hide themselves in some caves and watch the military operation. They stated that the Israeli soldiers who declared the area as a military zone were wearing white overalls over their military uniforms during the burial. The farmers said that they live in Al-Masafer with their animals.

Devices to Detect Radiation Pollution Under Embargo
Two days ago Dr. Zuheir Al-Wazeer, the Palestinian Ambassador in Vienna, exposed another scandal at the 54 General Conference of the IAEA. He said: “I would like to point out that Israel did not deliver to us the equipment of the agency in the field of technical cooperation. The IAEA sent us this equipment as part of a technical exchange program, but Israel still holds this equipment and has not released them since over two years”.

After the conference I was informed by Dr. Al-Wazeer that IAEA equipment which was sent to Palestine two years ago is still under the Israeli embargo. The equipment consists of devices used to detect radiation pollution. According to my information, the IAEA did not work enough or ask the general assembly members to impose pressure on Israel to release this equipment under the Israeli hold and which will help the Palestinian ministry of health in identifying areas of radioactive contamination in Palestine.

Ambassador Dr. Alwazer said in his speech delivered at the IAEA: I assure you that we are facing the danger of the Israeli nuclear weapon. Palestine suffers a significant risk of radiation because of Israel’s possession of nuclear reactors including the Dimona reactor, which has ended its useful life, which will expose Palestine and the Palestinian people and neighboring countries to the serious dangers of radiation. We look forward in this regard to the functions of the IAEA in order to study this matter and take the necessary means in order to avoid a health disaster.