ISRAEL ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION

Israel Atomic Energy Commission: translation

In 13 June 1952, Prime MinisterDavid Ben-Guriondeclared the establishment of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC). The IAEC advises the government in areas of nuclear policy and in setting priorities in nuclear research and development. It represents the state of Israel in international organizations in the nuclear field, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, and maintains relations with relevant national authorities of other states. The commission's activities began in a research institute near Rehovot. The IAEC operates two research centers: the Soreq Nuclear Research Center, founded in 1958, and the Nuclear Research CenterNegev. The Nuclear Research Center Negev was established at the end of 1959, and the research reactor in the center was first operated in 1960. The IAEC is one of Israel's most clandestine bodies. It belongs to theprime minister's officeand has ties with the Defense Ministry. It is responsible for operating the nuclear reactor inDimona, which foreign reports say manufactures plutonium.

See alsoAtomic Research and Development; Bergmann, David Ernst (1903-75).