[Associated Press, 11 February] The director general of Israel's Ministry of National Infrastructures, Hezi Kugler, said that the option of generating electricity from nuclear energy is being debated, but added that no decision on the issue had yet been made. Nili Lishitz, spokeswoman for the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission, said that the idea of building a nuclear plant was not new. She said, "In light of Israel's energy needs it is only natural that we showed interest," adding that, "Right now it is just in the planning stage." In the 1980s, state-owned Israel Electric Corp set aside a site in southern Negev desert at Shivta for a nuclear power plant, and discussions were held with France regarding equipment.