DETAILS OF CANCER LAWSUITS RELATED TO ISRAELI

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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