No Evidence
Well, there goes my Zionist Death UraniatorTM post (hat tip: Lair).
UN experts have found no evidence to support a press report that
Israel used depleted uranium (DU) munitions during the July-August conflict in Lebanon, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has said.“The samples taken by the UNEP scientists show no evidence of penetrators or metal made of DU or other radioactive material,” UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said in a statement Tuesday.
“In addition, no DU shrapnel, or other radioactive residue was found. The analysis of all smear samples taken shows no DU, nor enriched uranium nor higher than natural uranium content in the samples.”
In October, the British daily The Independent said samples of soil taken from two bomb craters in Lebanon showed high radiation levels, suggesting that uranium-based munitions had been used.
The craters, at Khiam and At-Tiri, were caused by Israeli heavy or guided bombs and showed “elevated radiation signatures,” the Independent quoted Chris Busby, the British scientific secretary of the European Committee on Radiation Risk, as saying.
Britain’s ministry of defence had confirmed the level of uranium isotopes in the samples, which were also being tested by mass spectrometry at a laboratory in Oxfordshire, the report had said.
The UNEP statement said a sub-team of inspectors looking specifically at the DU issue had visited 32 sites south and north of the Litani river.
“Following strict field procedures, a range of smear, dust and soil samples were taken. The samples were analysed in October-November at an internationally-recognised laboratory in Switzerland,” it said.
UNEP had sent the team as part of an assessment into environmental damage caused by the conflict.
The investigation confirmed that Israel had used artillery and mortar ammunition containing white phosphorus, the statement said.
Israel says that none of its weapons are illegal and acknowledged on October 22 that it used the phosphorus.
Human rights groups have long argued that phosphorus weapons, which cause agonising injuries, should be banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention.
I eagerly await Fisk’s follow-up column.
Filed Under: General
About the Author: An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.
Please help clarify: did the UK Defense Ministry say they found radioactivity in the samples as reported in the Independent, or did the UK Defense Ministry say they didn’t find radioactivity in the samples the UN took?
ah I see, when the UN says something you agree with you don’t post that picture of the French soldier in shorts to ridicule them but you praise them. Maybe you’ll get lucky and that oranization you now admire so much will find that Israel did not drop cluster bombs. Hell, maybe they’ll find Israel was never in Lebanon this summer. Then Koffi will be your new best friend.
Where do you see me praising the UN?
It is clear that there was no evidence of these weapons being used since even the UN could not find any. And I am sure the UN were just dying to prove that Israel did such a thing.
So rest easy. I still detest the UN, and will continue to ridicule them. But thanks for your concern.
what about the cluster bombs?
Yeah I agree please address the cluster bomb issue DAVE.
What about cluster bombs?
They are not banned by international law, no matter how much Amnesty International whines and cries about them. They’ve been used in Bosnia and in Iraq without a single condemnation from your beloved United Nations.
And that’s the way it is!
Shy Guy
Forget about the cluster bombs. What about the ingrown nails?
Thank goodness for an overabundance of chiropodists!
Shy Guy