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UN to probe claim Israel used depleted uranium bombs in Gaza By Haaretz Correspondent and Reuters , By Yossi Melman Tags: Hamas, Gaza, Israel news, IDF United Nations organizations said yesterday that it will investigate complaints that Israel used depleted uranium projectiles in the course of the fighting in Gaza, causing health and environmental damage. The inquiry will be conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Environment Protection Organization, at the request of the Arab states' UN envoys. Israel yesterday denied using uranium-depleted munitions during the Gaza Strip offensive and said that this could be proven by any UN investigation. The Foreign Ministry's foreign press spokesman called these accusations blatant, groundless propaganda. Advertisement "We will investigate the matter to the extent of our ability," an IAEA spokeswoman told Haaretz. She said the IAEA has "conducted similar missions before at the request of member states" but "no decision on action in this case has yet been taken." The inquiry request was made on behalf of the Arab states by Saudi Arabia's ambassador Mansour Bin Khalid Al-Saud. "I would like to express our deep concern over the information...from reports by various medical and media sources on the possibility that depleted uranium has been utilized in missiles deployed by Israel in its military aggression against civilians in Gaza," he wrote to IAEA. Israel has been accused in the past of making use of uranium-depleted artillery and tank shells during the Second Lebanon War. PLO and Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat accused Israel of doing the same following Israel's operations in Gaza in the course of the intifada. Depleted uranium is enriched uranium waste and because of its density is used as radiation protection for medical and industrial equipment. The military uses it for shells and other munitions, increasing their penetration against armored targets. Depleted-uranium munitions were used in the first Gulf War against Iraq and by NATO against Serbia in the Balkan war. After the 1991 Gulf War American combat veterans reported a mysterious illness dubbed the Gulf War syndrome. According to speculation, the illness was caused by the soldiers' exposure to uranium-depleted munitions. A UN report published in July 2008 found that contact with uranium-depleted munitions or close proximity to them could expose people to radiation and contamination. The chemical and radiological risks of exposure to depleted uranium are similar to those of natural uranium. Exposing people to uranium is hazardous, although depleted uranium has "weak radioactivity," the report concludes. Related articles: Israel denies using uranium-infused bombs during Gaza op Hamas launches first phosphorus rocket at Negev; no injuries reported Arms smuggling into Gaza continued during Israel's offensive Bookmark to del.icio.us   Waltz with Oscar Critically acclaimed Israeli film 'Waltz with Bashir' nominated for an oscar. Not convinced Hamas say Obama represents no change, will fail in Mideast.   1.   Will UN probe NATO as well for 09:36  |  Radio active Serbia 22/01/09   2.   NO, Mr. BAN, IT WAS NOT DP 15:16  |  Mikhil Bakunin 22/01/09   3.   IAEA MUST use their Weight 15:26  |  The Archives 22/01/09   4.   Censorship still in place 15:58  |  Mark Lincoln 22/01/09   5.   DU has never been used in a bomb 16:38  |  Gee 22/01/09   6.   Always Israel...the cold killers always get away with it ! 17:01  |  Johann 22/01/09   7.   Depleted Uranium 17:21  |  Abtalyon 22/01/09

Read & React Gideon Levy: Gaza war ended in utter failure for Israel Responses: 219 Italian paper: Gazans say Hamas kept them in homes used by gunmen Responses: 140 Editorial: Israel should launch its own probe into Gaza war crimes Responses: 50 Yossi Melman: Obama plan to talk buys Iran time for nuclear program Responses: 44 Israel Harel: Like in Lebanon, IDF displayed mediocrity in Gaza Responses: 47 More Headlines 23:28 Obama picks George Mitchell as Mideast envoy 'to make Gaza truce last' 21:07 Olmert to Clinton: Israel will do all it can to prevent Gaza smuggling 00:11 Hamas: Obama does not represent change 20:40 Italian paper: Gazans say Hamas kept them in homes used by gunmen 01:12 Hamas calls for Fatah reconciliation, vows to continue fighting Israel 19:06 Olmert: Gaza op spurred efforts to expedite Shalit release 19:56 Obama spy chief choice: U.S. intel should try to work with Iran 11:07 ANALYSIS / Obama plan to negotiate buys Iran time to complete nuclear program 04:19 Gideon Levy / Gaza war ended in utter failure for Israel 19:13 Oslo parties demand censure of envoy who likened Gaza op to Holocaust 17:08 Israel's 'Waltz with Bashir,' on 1982 Lebanon War, nominated for Oscar 22:03 Oxford students hold sit-in to demand university condemns Gaza op 21:05 Obama issues order to close secret overseas CIA prisons 01:45 Sources: Hamas arms smuggling never stopped during IDF op in Gaza 13:27 Palestinians: Shell fired from Israeli gunboat wounds two in Gaza 01:46 Israel to open Gaza border crossing to journalists on Friday 19:56 Hamas pledges to begin distributing cash to Gazans on Sunday 14:53 Israeli student collects 10 truckloads of basic aid for Gazans 18:31 Jewish groups condemn reprinting of Nazi-era newspapers in Germany Previous Editions Select Day 22 jan 21 jan 20 jan 19 jan 18 jan 16 jan 15 jan 14 jan 13 jan 12 jan 11 jan 09 jan

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