The Israeli parliament is expected to debate a bill tabled by an Arab MP calling for the closure of the Dimona nuclear plant, located in the south of the country.
The bill being presented by Issam Makhul, an MP from the Arab-Israeli "Hadash" party, claims that the top-secret facility has become an environmental hazard and a risk to employees.
Makhul told AFP on Tuesday that he had no illusions that the bill would receive approval in the Knesset but it would create much needed debate about it and Israeli nuclear arsenal.
"We know it doesn't have a chance of going through but its aim is to break the wall of silence surrounding Dimona," he said.
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
