Israeli nuclear experts have expressed doubts over recent media reports that Egypt might be attempting to develop a nuclear weapons program, the Israeli newspaper Ma’ariv reported Sunday (see GSN, June 24).

“It is such a complicated and weighty issue, not to mention the regional strategic implications, that it’s very doubtful that Egypt will go into it at this point in time,” an expert said.

The German newspaper Die Welt reported Saturday that Egypt is attempting to mine uranium in the Sinai Peninsula.  Ever since Israel occupied the area it has known that there are small deposits of uranium located in the Sinai, said Yuval Ne’eman, former chairman of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission.  The uranium located there, however, is too difficult to mine and refine to be of use, he said.

“It’s a long way between searching for and mining uranium deposits in Sinai and building a very big reactor,” said Shay Feldman of Tel Aviv University’s Strategic Studies Center.  “All in all, I don’t think there is anything much to this story” (Alex Doron, Ma’ariv, June 23 in FBIS-NES, June 23).

About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines

HOME  |  CONTACT US  |  GET INVOLVED  |  SITE MAP

Back to top