Things to Know About Israel’s Alleged Top-Secret Nuclear Program
During
an internationally-televised speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu accused Iran of lying about its nuclear program after signing
the 2015 deal – his remarks have prompted speculations over Tel Aviv’s
alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction.
Israel
is widely suspected of possessing weapons of mass destruction,
supposedly developed in 1948-1949, with an estimated arsenal of up
to 400 warheads. Despite the fact that Mordechai Vanunu, a former worker
at the Israeli Dimona nuclear reactor, blew the whistle on Tel Aviv’s
nuclear program in 1986, Israel still maintains a policy of “nuclear
ambiguity” – never denying or admitting to having nuclear arms.
Israel Lied Too?
In the 1950s and 1960s, the Israeli government under Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion reportedly lied to the United States and stonewalled Washington’s requests for information on weapons development and refused to accept visits from the International Atomic Energy Agency. Tel Aviv reportedly referred to its Dimona reactor, provided by France, as a “textile plant” and a “metallurgic research installation,” allegedly in a bid to hide the truth from American nuclear inspectors.
While there are many speculations about Israel having nuclear weapons, no one really knows how big its arsenal is. Back in 2008, former US President Jimmy Carter estimated that Israel had at least 150 atomic weapons in its stockpile.
READ MORE: US: Israeli Nukes Not Up For Debate Until State is Recognized by Arab Neighbors
The country is believed to have anywhere between 80 and 400 nuclear warheads, and the ability to deliver them by aircraft, submarine-launched cruise missiles, and the Jericho “family” of intermediate to intercontinental range ballistic missiles.
Still Refuses to Sign NPT
While the signatories to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty have consistently pushed for a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East, with the UN attempting to make Israel sign the agreement, Tel Aviv has steadfastly refused to join the international community. Israel, while neither confirming nor denying its nuclear program, has repeatedly stated that the issue of nuclear weapons could not be dissociated from security issues in the region, including the country’s historically hostile relations with its Arab neighbors.
READ MORE: ‘Pandora’s Box’: Macron Warns US Exit From Iran Nuclear Deal Might Mean War
In 2010, all 189 parties to the treaty urged for a conference in 2012 to discuss de-nuclearization of the Middle East, calling on Israel to sign the pact and make its atomic facilities subject to UN inspections. Israel, however, rejected the “flawed and hypocritical” document.
Israel Lied Too?
In the 1950s and 1960s, the Israeli government under Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion reportedly lied to the United States and stonewalled Washington’s requests for information on weapons development and refused to accept visits from the International Atomic Energy Agency. Tel Aviv reportedly referred to its Dimona reactor, provided by France, as a “textile plant” and a “metallurgic research installation,” allegedly in a bid to hide the truth from American nuclear inspectors.
“I
do not know of any other nation, whose neighbors declare that they wish
to terminate it, and not only declare, but prepare for it by all means
available to them. We must have no illusions that what is declared
every day in Cairo, Damascus, Iraq are just words. This is the thought
that guides the Arab leaders,” Ben-Gurion said after his resignation
as prime minister.
What’s the Number?While there are many speculations about Israel having nuclear weapons, no one really knows how big its arsenal is. Back in 2008, former US President Jimmy Carter estimated that Israel had at least 150 atomic weapons in its stockpile.
“The US has more
than 12,000 nuclear weapons; the Soviet Union [sic] has about the same;
Great Britain and France have several hundred, and Israel has 150 or
more,” Carter told the press.
In
2014, Carter reconsidered his estimates, suggesting that “Israel has,
what, 300 or more, nobody knows exactly how many.”In a private email
message, written several months before the 2015 Iran nuclear deal was
inked, and leaked in September 2016, former US Secretary of State Colin Powell allegedly exposed the real number of Israeli warheads at the time.
“The boys in Tehran know Israel has 200, all targeted on Tehran, and we have thousands.”
During
the P5+1 Iran nuclear program talks, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad
Zarif told reporters at the UN that Israel was “sitting on 400 nuclear
warheads.”READ MORE: US: Israeli Nukes Not Up For Debate Until State is Recognized by Arab Neighbors
The country is believed to have anywhere between 80 and 400 nuclear warheads, and the ability to deliver them by aircraft, submarine-launched cruise missiles, and the Jericho “family” of intermediate to intercontinental range ballistic missiles.
Still Refuses to Sign NPT
While the signatories to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty have consistently pushed for a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East, with the UN attempting to make Israel sign the agreement, Tel Aviv has steadfastly refused to join the international community. Israel, while neither confirming nor denying its nuclear program, has repeatedly stated that the issue of nuclear weapons could not be dissociated from security issues in the region, including the country’s historically hostile relations with its Arab neighbors.
READ MORE: ‘Pandora’s Box’: Macron Warns US Exit From Iran Nuclear Deal Might Mean War
In 2010, all 189 parties to the treaty urged for a conference in 2012 to discuss de-nuclearization of the Middle East, calling on Israel to sign the pact and make its atomic facilities subject to UN inspections. Israel, however, rejected the “flawed and hypocritical” document.
“As a non-signatory state of the
NPT, Israel is not obligated by the decisions of this conference, which
has no authority over Israel,” the Israeli government said in a
statement. “Given the distorted nature of this resolution, Israel will
not be able to take part in its implementation.”
In 2015, Egypt sought to convince the international community to discuss Israel’s alleged nuclear weapons
via resolutions, but its attempt to push for a nuclear-free region
without discussion of regional security issues at a United Nations
conference was blocked by the United States, Canada and the UK.
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