Israel wants a nuclear power plant

JERUSALEM, July 31 (UPI) -- The Israeli government is seeking U.S. approval to build a civilian nuclear power plant in the Negev desert, a report said.

Yedioth Aharonoth reported Friday Israel will agree to international supervision of a future power plant but not its "other nuclear capabilities."

The government has contacted White House officials to examine ways of overcoming obstacles but has yet to receive an answer from Washington, the paper said.

Israel has never acknowledged or denied having a nuclear weapons program and has refused to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Six months ago, a comprehensive report drawn up by large international energy concerns was submitted to Israel's Ministry of Infrastructure for review, the paper said.

Since, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's government has sought to receive approval from the United States on similar terms to those granted to India, which also refused to sign the treaty but has allowed supervision of its civilian nuclear power plants, the paper said.

In 2007, Israel revived plans for a nuclear plant saying once it receives approval, it would take eight years to complete, the paper said.

According to recent world media reports, Jordan hopes to have a nuclear power plant up and running by 2013, and Egypt has also expressed interest in building nuclear energy sites for civilian use.