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Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz ordered the immediate shutdown af a Military antenna near Rehovot
"Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz ordered the immediate shutdown of a military antenna at Kibbutz Na'an, east of Rehovot, ending a six-month battle by kibbutz residents who demanded the antenna's removal. The Defense Ministry will begin dismantling the primary antenna over the course of the next year, and the remaining antennas in the area will be activated only in cases of an emergency. a'an residents have complained about the close proximity of the antennas used by the Israel Defense Forces. They say there is a link between the location of the antennas and the dozens of cases of cancer in Na'an and the nearby moshav of Sitriya.
Residents of Kibbutz Na'an and other communities in the Rehovot area have frequently protested against the antenna, which they say emits harmful radiation. Earlier this year, discussions between the residents and the Defense Ministry led to the decision to invite an external expert to examine whether there is a causal connection between the cancer cases and the level of radiation from the antennas.
Professor Eliyahu Richter from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found a deviation from the permitted level of radiation emitted from the antenna located in close proximity to Na'an.
Earlier this month, with the start of the academic year, parents in the area refused to send their children to a newly established school in Sitriya for fear of exposure to radiation. As an alternative, parents enlisted the aid of teachers to provide the children with out-of-school instruction in temporary facilities.
Parents also announced that the alternative study system would continue until the antennas are shut down.
"We must do everything in order to return the students from the school near the antenna to regular instruction as soon as possible," Mofaz said Wednesday.
"This is a goodwill gesture and we cannot ignore it," said Gidi Hillel, a resident of Sitriya, in reaction to the Defense Ministry's decision. "We intend on discussing this decision as well as its significance."
Hillel said that any decision regarding the return of students to the new school near the antenna will have to be made by all residents in the region.
Yifat Safriel, a nearby resident who is active in protesting the antennas, said she viewed the Defense Ministry's decision as a recognition of the problem.
"We ask to meet with the defense minister's chief of staff so that we can understand the significance of the decision," Safriel said. "We do not know when [the Defense Ministry] will declare an emergency, which will enable the antennas to operate again, and we do not know what the power level of the broadcast will be when it does operate again."
"We intend to convene and discuss the developments but, as of now, the school shutdown will continue," Safriel said.
Source: Yuval Azoulay. IDF antenna emitting excess radiation to be shut down. Haaretz.com (28 September 2005) [FullText]
Residents of Kibbutz Na'an and other communities in the Rehovot area have frequently protested against the antenna, which they say emits harmful radiation. Earlier this year, discussions between the residents and the Defense Ministry led to the decision to invite an external expert to examine whether there is a causal connection between the cancer cases and the level of radiation from the antennas.
Professor Eliyahu Richter from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found a deviation from the permitted level of radiation emitted from the antenna located in close proximity to Na'an.
Earlier this month, with the start of the academic year, parents in the area refused to send their children to a newly established school in Sitriya for fear of exposure to radiation. As an alternative, parents enlisted the aid of teachers to provide the children with out-of-school instruction in temporary facilities.
Parents also announced that the alternative study system would continue until the antennas are shut down.
"We must do everything in order to return the students from the school near the antenna to regular instruction as soon as possible," Mofaz said Wednesday.
"This is a goodwill gesture and we cannot ignore it," said Gidi Hillel, a resident of Sitriya, in reaction to the Defense Ministry's decision. "We intend on discussing this decision as well as its significance."
Hillel said that any decision regarding the return of students to the new school near the antenna will have to be made by all residents in the region.
Yifat Safriel, a nearby resident who is active in protesting the antennas, said she viewed the Defense Ministry's decision as a recognition of the problem.
"We ask to meet with the defense minister's chief of staff so that we can understand the significance of the decision," Safriel said. "We do not know when [the Defense Ministry] will declare an emergency, which will enable the antennas to operate again, and we do not know what the power level of the broadcast will be when it does operate again."
"We intend to convene and discuss the developments but, as of now, the school shutdown will continue," Safriel said.
Source: Yuval Azoulay. IDF antenna emitting excess radiation to be shut down. Haaretz.com (28 September 2005) [FullText]
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