Chaïm Nissim
Encyclopedia
Chaïm Nissim is a Swiss former activist, author of the rocket attack of 18 January 1982 on Superphénix
, and Green
politician.
In the mid-50s, his family moved to Geneva. Nissim obtained a degree in electronical and computer engineering at the EPFL in 1973.
On 18 January 1982, Nissim fired five rockets on the Superphénix
nuclear plant, then under construction. Five rocket-propelled grenades were launched at the incomplete containment building – two hit and caused damage, missing the reactor's empty core.
The weapon, a RPG-7
, was obtained from the Red Army Faction
through Carlos the Jackal
and the Belgian Cellules Communistes Combattantes.
Nissim states that
He further stated
. He held the position until 2001.
On 8 May 2003, Nissim went public about the rocket attack of 1982, publishing a book on the subject and his connections to terrorist groups.
see also a broadcast on TV:
Nissim currently supports the Noé 21 group, a thinktank on energy policies.
Superphénix
Superphénix or SPX was a nuclear power station on the Rhône River at Creys-Malville in France, close to the border with Switzerland. A fast breeder reactor, it halted electricity production in 1996 and was closed as a commercial plant in 1997....
, and Green
Green Party of Switzerland
The Green Party of Switzerland is the fifth-largest party in the National Council of Switzerland, and the largest party that is not represented on the Federal Council.-History:...
politician.
Biography
Nissim was born in Jerusalem in 1949 to the family of a banker.In the mid-50s, his family moved to Geneva. Nissim obtained a degree in electronical and computer engineering at the EPFL in 1973.
Activist background and attack on Superphénix
For ten years, Nissim, believing that fast breeder reactor "can explode with their fast neutrons", did everything he could to stop the construction of the Superphénix nuclear plant, including training himself for underground guerilla, notably sabotaging electricity pylons with explosives.On 18 January 1982, Nissim fired five rockets on the Superphénix
Superphénix
Superphénix or SPX was a nuclear power station on the Rhône River at Creys-Malville in France, close to the border with Switzerland. A fast breeder reactor, it halted electricity production in 1996 and was closed as a commercial plant in 1997....
nuclear plant, then under construction. Five rocket-propelled grenades were launched at the incomplete containment building – two hit and caused damage, missing the reactor's empty core.
The weapon, a RPG-7
RPG-7
The RPG-7 is a widely-produced, portable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Originally the RPG-7 and its predecessor, the RPG-2, were designed by the Soviet Union, and now manufactured by the Bazalt company...
, was obtained from the Red Army Faction
Red Army Faction
The radicalized were, like many in the New Left, influenced by:* Sociological developments, pressure within the educational system in and outside Europe and the U.S...
through Carlos the Jackal
Carlos the Jackal
Ilich Ramírez Sánchez , better known as Carlos the Jackal, is a Venezuelan pro-Palestinian currently serving a life sentence in France for shooting to death two French secret agents and a Lebanese informer in 1975....
and the Belgian Cellules Communistes Combattantes.
Nissim states that
He further stated
Political career
In 1985, Nissim was elected to a MP office at the cantonal parliament of Geneva, under the aegis of the Green Party of SwitzerlandGreen Party of Switzerland
The Green Party of Switzerland is the fifth-largest party in the National Council of Switzerland, and the largest party that is not represented on the Federal Council.-History:...
. He held the position until 2001.
On 8 May 2003, Nissim went public about the rocket attack of 1982, publishing a book on the subject and his connections to terrorist groups.
see also a broadcast on TV:
Nissim currently supports the Noé 21 group, a thinktank on energy policies.