An Israeli soldier, who took part in the construction of the Dimona atomic reactor, has filed a suit against the defense ministry, claiming compensation for the health hazards he underwent during his work, reported The Jerusalem Post.
The daily cited a report by the Hebrew daily Yediot Aharonot as saying that hundreds of Israeli soldiers were sent in the sixties to build the atomic reactor in the Negev desert, south of Israel, without knowing what dangers they were exposing themselves to.
The paper quoted the plaintiff, who claimed about $700.000 in compensation, as saying that he "worked with the lead but wore no protective gear."
He said that he was involved in a series of "accidents" in which there was radioactive leakage.
"The Atomic Energy Commission had information about high levels of toxic materials in my blood," the plaintiff said.
A spokesman for the commission said that all the workers at the reactor were under constant medical supervision.
He added that "soldiers who had been affected during work at the reactor would be treated like any other IDF personnel who were injured during their service.” - Albawaba.com
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