A bill submitted by three Israeli-Arab Knesset Members calling for the closure of Israel's nuclear reactor in Dimona was defeated today by a 65-6 margin. The three MKs - Makhoul, Barakeh and Tibi, claimed "environmental concerns" to justify their proposal. They say that research shows that a nuclear reactor's life expectancy is about 40 years, after which the number of malfunctions rises sharply. These faults then turn the radioactive materials into an environmental hazard, the Arab MKs say, adding that they are also concerned about health dangers to the plant's workers.
MK Makhoul has long been an opponent of Israel's nuclear program. He has been active on behalf of freeing convicted nuclear scientist-turned-spy Mordechai Vanunu, and has attended numerous protests against the Dimona reactor.
Harsh criticism of the bill was leveled from across the Jewish political spectrum. MK Ehud Yatom (Likud) said, "I suggest that proposed bills concerning matters of state security be tabled by people who actually care about state security and not by those who attempt, time and time again, to seek ways to harm it."
MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) recommended that Israel's Nuclear Energy Commission file a petition with the Supreme Court demanding that the Arab Hadash party - of which the three MKs are members - be shut down.
Even Meretz MK Avshalom Vilan condemned the Arab party's move to close the Dimona plant. "Bills of this nature do not belong in the legislature," he said. "The public debate on the Dimona plant should be conducted in the public sphere. The Hadash faction is attacking the subject of the reactor not because of its safety hazards but for other reasons."
In response to Makhoul's concern for Vanunu, Minister Avigdor Lieberman of the National Union lashed out against Arab MKs from the Knesset plenum podium last week, accusing them of plotting to destroy the State of Israel. Lieberman compared MK Issam Makhoul to arch-terrorist Mohammed Def, adding that "the Arab MKs are working to destroy the state, but we do not let them. You [the Arab MKs] belong in prison... you want to destroy the state and he [Def] also wants to destroy the state. I am embarrassed to sit together with you in the parliament."
Knesset Speaker Ruby Rivlin has asked that the MKs tone down their remarks against Arab MKs.
MK Makhoul has long been an opponent of Israel's nuclear program. He has been active on behalf of freeing convicted nuclear scientist-turned-spy Mordechai Vanunu, and has attended numerous protests against the Dimona reactor.
Harsh criticism of the bill was leveled from across the Jewish political spectrum. MK Ehud Yatom (Likud) said, "I suggest that proposed bills concerning matters of state security be tabled by people who actually care about state security and not by those who attempt, time and time again, to seek ways to harm it."
MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) recommended that Israel's Nuclear Energy Commission file a petition with the Supreme Court demanding that the Arab Hadash party - of which the three MKs are members - be shut down.
Even Meretz MK Avshalom Vilan condemned the Arab party's move to close the Dimona plant. "Bills of this nature do not belong in the legislature," he said. "The public debate on the Dimona plant should be conducted in the public sphere. The Hadash faction is attacking the subject of the reactor not because of its safety hazards but for other reasons."
In response to Makhoul's concern for Vanunu, Minister Avigdor Lieberman of the National Union lashed out against Arab MKs from the Knesset plenum podium last week, accusing them of plotting to destroy the State of Israel. Lieberman compared MK Issam Makhoul to arch-terrorist Mohammed Def, adding that "the Arab MKs are working to destroy the state, but we do not let them. You [the Arab MKs] belong in prison... you want to destroy the state and he [Def] also wants to destroy the state. I am embarrassed to sit together with you in the parliament."
Knesset Speaker Ruby Rivlin has asked that the MKs tone down their remarks against Arab MKs.