Israel Trade Norway

The Norweigian government, anxious to establish whether Israel used its heavy water to make atomic weapons, said Friday that it will send an official delegation to Israel in the next month for more talks on the issue. Norweigian and Israeli officials have already met several times to discuss Oslo's request for inspection of 20 tons of heavy water it sold secretly to Israel in 1959 on the condition that it be used only for peaceful purposes.

The Norweigian government, anxious to establish whether Israel used its heavy water to make atomic weapons, said Friday that it will send an official delegation to Israel in the next month for more talks on the issue. Norweigian and Israeli officials have already met several times to discuss Oslo's request for inspection of 20 tons of heavy water it sold secretly to Israel in 1959 on the condition that it be used only for peaceful purposes.

Norway will insist on its right to inspect Israel's nuclear reactor at Dimona to make sure two shipments of Norwegian "heavy water" were not used in the production of nuclear arms, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said in Oslo. Israel turned down an earlier Norwegian request to allow the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect the heavy water, sold to Israel nearly 30 years ago. Norway has the right to inspect the heavy water--or deuterium oxide--as a condition of the 1959 sale.

Norway will insist on its right to inspect Israel's nuclear reactor at Dimona to make sure two shipments of Norwegian "heavy water" were not used in the production of nuclear arms, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said in Oslo. Israel turned down an earlier Norwegian request to allow the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect the heavy water, sold to Israel nearly 30 years ago. Norway has the right to inspect the heavy water--or deuterium oxide--as a condition of the 1959 sale.