US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV5261

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 005261 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2015 
TAGS: PINR, MNUC, TRGY, IS, ISRAELI SOCIETY, GOI INTERNAL 
SUBJECT: DETAILS OF CANCER LAWSUITS RELATED TO ISRAELI 
NUCLEAR FACILITIES (C-WP5-00339) 
 
REF: STATE 100774 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Norm Olsen for reasons 1.4 (B) and ( 
D). 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY: Officials at the Israel Atomic Energy 
Commission (IAEC) confirmed to emboffs on August 24 that four 
former employees have filed lawsuits charging that they 
developed cancer as a result of exposure to radiation in the 
Dimona and Soreq nuclear facilities.  The IAEC provided to 
emboffs only limited details on these four cases, but denied 
that the illnesses were in any way related to employment in 
Israel's nuclear centers.  The GOI closely guards all 
information on its nuclear programs and will oppose any 
publication of sensitive material in the court's 
deliberations or verdict.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (SBU) The Israel Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC) confirmed 
that four individuals formerly employed at the Dimona and/or 
Soreq nuclear centers have cases pending before the Tel Aviv 
County Court.  According to the press, the plaintiffs claim 
they contracted cancer due to exposure and insufficient 
safety procedures.  One former engineer at Dimona told 
reporters that the GOI took "shortcuts" during maintenance 
procedures in the reactor's heavily radiated areas.  Another 
worker, who held an unspecified supervisory position, claimed 
that he had been forced to work without standard monitors to 
measure the level of radiation and without a protective mask. 
 In discussions with reporters, an IAEC spokesman has denied 
press reports that more than 50 former employees have filed 
such suits. 
 
3. (C) The plaintiffs have asked the court to obtain 
classified records on their cases from the Israeli 
authorities.  An IAEC official told poloff that the GOI will 
not release any of the material on either Soreq or Dimona 
unless ordered to do so by the courts.  (Note: Court cases 
like these are not typically open to the public.  The courts 
usually publish their verdicts at the end of each case, but 
classified or sensitive material is expunged.  End note). 
 
4. (C) According to an IAEC official, two of the plaintiffs 
have brain tumors of unrelated types, one has non-Hodgkins 
lymphoma, and one, now deceased, had adrenal gland cancer. 
The IAEC noted that the latter case was filed by the family 
of a former employee who suffered from several major diseases 
(in addition to the cancer) at the time of his death.  The 
four employees worked in different locations in the following 
fields: radiochemistry research, electronics, mechanics and 
radiation safety.  None were involved in any incidents 
involving radioactive material.  The IAEC said that radiation 
exposure levels for three of the plaintiffs measured 0.05-0.5 
Roentgen Equivalent Man (rem) over employment periods 
spanning from two to 20 years.  The employee in the fourth 
case was exposed to nine rem over 28 years.  The IAEC has 
told reporters in the past that it attempts to limit annual 
exposure for its employees to 300 millirem, although it 
admitted that some employees register up to 500 millirem each 
year. 
 
5. (C) An official at the IAEC told poloff that GOI studies 
have shown no causal link between the cancer cases and 
employment in nuclear research centers in Israel.  The 
official also claimed that the GOI updates its safety 
equipment at all nuclear facilities "in accordance with the 
international standards in this area." 
 
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KURTZER