Nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu said in an interview that the Dimona nuclear reactor endangers the lives of millions throughout the Middle East.
In an interview published Sunday with London-based Al Hayat, he said that a strong earthquake in the region may crack the reactor, causing radioactive leakage that would result in the death of millions of people.
Al-Hayat claims that this is the first interview Vanunu has given to a newspaper since his release from an Israeli prison in April.
Vanunu also told the newspaper that the Jordanian government should prepare for possible leaks from the reactor, just as Israel has plans to distribute iodine anti-radiation pills to residents living close to the nuclear reactor in Dimona.
He said that Jordanians living close to the border with Israel should be examined for possible nuclear radiation, explaining that the Hashemite Kingdom is especially at risk from the reactor as it operates mainly when "the wind blows toward Jordan."
According to the report, he added he does not believe that the United States and European nations will pressure Israel into revealing the full extent of its nuclear capabilities.
Vanunu also took the opportunity to slam UN nuclear watchdog head Mohammed El Baradei for visiting Israel earlier this month and not exerting any pressure on it to open up its nuclear program to international inspection. "He should have done here what he did in Iraq," he was quoted as saying.
The former nuclear technician was freed in April after serving 18 years for disclosing Israel's nuclear secrets to the British Sunday Times. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
