Israel Seeks Permission to Build Nuclear Plant

Israel recently asked the United States to assist in the establishment of a nuclear power plant in the southern Negev desert, according to Israeli news channel Ynetnews.

There has as yet been no response from Washington. The Israeli Government needs America's approval to build an internationally monitored civilian reactor.

In recent months, the Netanyahu-led government has renewed efforts to secure US approval for building a nuclear plant without having to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Israel is interested in adopting the so-called Indian model, which only allows international monitoring of civilian reactors, writes the news site.

Plans for building a nuclear reactor in Israel have been in place since the 1960s, with a plot already reserved to build the plant.