The Dimona reactor was built with French assistance in the 1950s
Nov 23,
2023. Posted by Balkan Periscope - Hellas
Israel is
believed to possess between 80 and 400 nuclear weapons but has never faced
serious international scrutiny over this.
Despite widespread speculation, Israel has neither confirmed nor denied having nuclear weapons, adhering to a policy of deliberate ambiguity.
Israel is
believed to have between 80 to 400 nuclear warheads, with the first completed
around late 1966 or early 1967.
This
estimate would position Israel as the sixth nation globally to develop nuclear
weapons. Delivery methods for these weapons are believed to include aircraft,
submarine-launched cruise missiles, and the Jericho series ballistic missiles.
Israel
consistently reiterates the cryptic refrain that it will "not be the first
to introduce nuclear weapons to the Middle East". The nation has not
signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) despite
international calls to join.
Recently,
the issue gained renewed attention when Israel's Heritage Minister Amichai
Eliyahu, of the extremist Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party, suggested that
using nuclear weapons against Gaza would be an option. He was suspended soon
afterwards.
He accused
Western nations of aiding and overlooking alleged crimes against humanity by
Israel in Gaza, where over 14,000 people have been killed in indiscriminate
bombardment.
History and implications
Israel's
first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, was committed to acquiring nuclear
weapons, justifying this by saying it was to prevent a recurrence of the Nazi
Holocaust.
In 1949, a
unit of the Israeli army's science corps, HEMED GIMMEL, started a geological
survey in the Naqab (Negev) desert, initially searching for petroleum but also
for uranium sources, crucial for nuclear development.
In the same
year, Israel started funding nuclear physics students to study abroad,
including looking at the study of nuclear chain reactions.
By 1952,
Israel Atomic Energy Commission chief Ernst David Bergmann sought nuclear
collaboration with France, and laid the foundation for future French-Israeli
cooperation. This partnership included Israeli scientists' involvement in
France's nuclear facilities and knowledge sharing, particularly with those with
experience on the Manhattan Project.
The
relationship culminated in 1957, with France agreeing to build a nuclear
reactor and reprocessing plant in Israel, a decision influenced by geopolitical
factors and mutual scientific benefits.
This
partnership was solidified through secret agreements, ostensibly concentrating
on peaceful use of atomic technology but with implications for weapons
development.
However,
the partnership faced challenges when Charles de Gaulle became president of
France and French assistance to Israel concluded by 1966.
Tensions
with the US escalated, particularly under President John F. Kennedy, over
Israel's nuclear ambitions, leading to diplomatic confrontations and demands
for reactor inspections. Despite these pressures, Israel managed to navigate
these challenges, maintaining its nuclear programme's secrecy.
Simultaneously,
Britain and Norway also covertly aided Israel's nuclear ambitions, including
shipments of restricted materials and heavy water, critical for reactor
operations.
The Dimona
reactor achieved criticality in 1962, and by 1966 Israel had reportedly
developed its first operational nuclear weapon, marking the beginning of its
full-scale nuclear weapons production.
The exact
costs of Israel's nuclear program are unknown, but substantial foreign aid and
Mossad's covert operations played crucial roles.
Israeli
defector Mordechai Vanunu dramatically revealed the extent of the nuclear
programme in 1986, and he was kidnapped by Mossad agents and brought back to
Israel, serving long years in prison.
By the
mid-2000s, estimates of Israel's nuclear arsenal varied widely, with
speculation about uranium enrichment capabilities adding to these
uncertainties.
Despite
occasional statements by other countries expressing concern about Israel's
nuclear capabilities, there has been little pressure on Israel to declare its
nuclear activities or open up its facilities for inspection, let alone to
destroy its weapons.
Double standards
The
international community's approach to nuclear proliferation exhibits notable
disparities, especially when comparing the cases of Israel, Iran, and Pakistan.
Israel,
despite widespread belief in its possession of nuclear weapons, has never
publicly confirmed this and enjoys a unique position of strategic ambiguity. It
does not face the same level of scrutiny or sanctions imposed on other nations.
In
contrast, Iran, whose nuclear program has raised global concerns about
potential weaponisation, has been subject to rigorous inspections, strict
sanctions, and intense diplomatic negotiations under frameworks like the Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Pakistan,
having openly conducted nuclear tests in 1998, is often viewed through the lens
of regional security dynamics, particularly its rivalry with India, and faces a
distinct set of international concerns and regulatory measures.
The New Arab
--