Israel said it subjected soldiers to a secret, large-scale anthrax vaccine experiment.
The Defense Ministry made the announcement Monday following a television expose alleging that approximately 800 soldiers took part in government anthrax-related tests since 1999, but that some who developed diseases have been neglected by the state.
“The experiment was carried out in the context of preparing to protect the State of Israel’s populace from a strategic threat,” read a Defense Ministry statement, adding that the procedure had been approved by medical experts and that all participants were fully informed volunteers.