First detailed video of Israel’s nuclear site Dimona

1/8/2005 8:00:00 AM GMT

An Israeli television station aired on Friday a 14-minute videotape showing Israel's secret nuclear facility, Dimona, the first detailed video of the site ever made public.

The video showed a pastoral setting of well-manicured lawns and palm trees, swaying gently in a light desert breeze. The nuclear reactor’s dome appeared in the background, and a small building standing next to it.

Previous footage of Dimona lasted for only seconds, and only showed long-distance shots of the reactor building.

Israel’s nuclear reactor at Dimona in the Negev desert is one of Israel’s most secret sites, where it forbids any photography.

However, the video gave no close-ups of the reactor or interviews with officials speaking about the facility.

It only concentrated on wide-angle shots; buses bringing staff to the site, and people lined up, waiting to use a cash machine.

Shiloh Debeer, head of news at Channel 10 television, which aired the footage, refused to explain how the channel obtained it.

However, Israel's normally cautious military censor approved the release of the video, saying it was produced in cooperation with Israel's top secret nuclear agency.

Israel maintains a policy of ambiguity concerning its nuclear program, neither admitting nor denying that it does posses nuclear weapons.

Israel has repeatedly claimed that Dimona reactor is solely used for peaceful purposes.

On the other hand, Israel, backed by the U.S., is trying to refer Iran’s nuclear file to the UN security council for possible sanctions. Israel has threatened Iran with pre-emptive strike targeting its nuclear facilities.

But Iran rejects Israel and the U.S., asserting that it’s nuclear program is only aimed at peaceful purposes, like generating electricity.

In 1986 former technician Mordechai Vanunu passed secret information about Israel's Dimona reactor to London's Sunday Times. The released documents and pictures, according to experts, proved that Israel has the world's sixth-largest stockpile of nuclear weapons.

Vanunu was jailed for 18 years for treason and espionage.

Egypt as well as other Middle East countries have criticized Israel for failing to get rid of its reported nuclear arsenal, whereas it steps up pressure against Iran to halt its nuclear program.