Israel and nuclear weapons

Former International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohamed ElBaradei regarded Israel as a state possessing nuclear weapons, but Israel maintains a policy known as " nuclear ambiguity " (also known as "nuclear opacity"). Israel has never officially admitted to having nuclear weapons, instead repeating over the years that it would not be the first country to "introduce" nuclear weapons to the Middle East , leaving ambiguous whether it means it will not create, will not disclose, or will not make first use of the weapons. Israel began investigating the nuclear field just one year after its 1948 founding and with French support secretly began building a nuclear reactor and reprocessing plant in the late 1950s. Although Israel first built a nuclear weapon in 1967-68, it was not publicly confirmed from the inside until Mordechai Vanunu , a former Israeli nuclear technician, revealed details of the program to the British press in 1986. Israel is currently believed to possess between 75 and 400 nuclear warheads with the ability to deliver them by intercontinental ballistic missile , aircraft , and submarine . NTI working for a safer world . A Propensity for Conflict: Potential Scenarios and Outcomes of War in the Middle East,” Jane's Intelligence Review , Special Report no. 14, (February 1997), 14-15. Brower notes that he is making a high estimate of the number of weapons. "Background Information, 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons" .

It is one of four nuclear-armed countries not recognized as a Nuclear Weapons State by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the others being India , Pakistan and North Korea . Israel maintains a policy known as " nuclear ambiguity " (also known as "nuclear opacity"). Israel has never officially admitted to having nuclear weapons, instead repeating over the years that it would not be the first country to "introduce" nuclear weapons to the Middle East , leaving ambiguity as to whether it means it will not create, will not disclose, will not make first use of the weapons or possibly some other interpretation of the phrase. The "not be the first" formulation goes back to the Eshkol - Comer ( sic ) memorandum of understanding made between Israel and the United States on March 10, 1965, which contained Israel's written assurance for the first time that it would not be the first to introduce nuclear weapons in the Middle East. Israel has refused to sign the NPT despite international pressure to do so, and has stated that signing the NPT would be contrary to its national security interests. Additionally, Israel has made extensive efforts to deny other regional actors the ability to acquire their own nuclear weapons. The counter-proliferation , preventive strike Begin Doctrine added another dimension to Israel's existing nuclear policy. Israel remains the only country in the Middle East believed to possess them. Israel started investigating the nuclear field soon after its founding in 1948 and with French support secretly began building a nuclear reactor and reprocessing plant in the late 1950s in Dimona . Israel is alleged to have built its first nuclear weapon in December 1966, but it is not publicly confirmed. In 1986, Mordechai Vanunu , a former Israeli nuclear technician, provided explicit details and photographs to the Sunday Times of a nuclear weapons program in which he had been employed for nine years, "including equipment for extracting radioactive material for arms production and laboratory models of thermonuclear devices." In 1987, an unclassified US DoD report (released in February 2015 in response to a FOIA request) stated that "As far as nuclear technology is concerned, the Israelis are roughly where the U.S. [w]as in the fission weapon field in about 1955 to 1960. It should be noted that the Israelis are developing the kind of codes which will enable them to make hydrogen bombs." Estimates as to the size of the Israeli nuclear arsenal vary between 75 and 400 nuclear warheads . It is estimated that the Israel nuclear deterrent force has the ability to deliver them by intermediate-range ballistic missile , intercontinental ballistic missile , aircraft, and submarine-launched cruise missile . The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates that Israel has approximately 80 intact nuclear weapons, of which 50 are for delivery by Jericho II medium-range ballistic missiles and 30 are gravity bombs for delivery by aircraft. Federation of American Scientists . The named reference "FAS" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page ). Brower notes that he makes a high estimate of the number of weapons. Federation of American Scientists . My Promised Land , by Ari Shavit , (London 2014), page 188 "Background Information" . The New York Times . The New York Times . "Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968" (historical documents) . Office of the Historian . The Avni source and others misspell Robert W. The U.S.signatory, Robert Comer ( sic ; see Avni footnote), was a U.S. "Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968" (historical documents) . Office of the Historian .

Estimates of Israel's stockpile range between 80 and 400 nuclear warheads , and the country is believed to possess the ability to deliver them in several methods, including by aircraft; as submarine-launched cruise missiles ; and the Jericho series of intermediate to intercontinental range ballistic missiles . Its first deliverable nuclear weapon is thought to have been completed in late 1966 or early 1967; which would make it the sixth country in the world to have developed them. However, Israel maintains a policy of deliberate ambiguity , never officially denying nor admitting to having nuclear weapons, instead repeating over the years that "Israel will not be the first country to introduce nuclear weapons to the Middle East ". Israel has also declined to sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), despite international pressure to do so, saying that would be contrary to its national security interests. Additionally, Israel developed the Begin Doctrine of counter-proliferation and preventive strikes , denying other regional actors the ability to acquire their own nuclear weapons. The Israeli Air Force conducted Operation Opera and Operation Orchard , destroying the Iraqi and Syrian nuclear reactors in 1981 and 2007, respectively, and the Stuxnet malware that severely damaged Iranian nuclear facilities in 2010 is thought to have been developed by Israel. As of 2019, Israel remains the only country in the Middle East believed to possess nuclear weapons. The Samson Option refers to Israel's deterrence strategy of massive retaliation with nuclear weapons as a "last resort" against a country whose military has invaded and/or destroyed much of Israel. Israel began to investigate the nuclear field soon after it declared independence in 1948 and, with French co-operation, secretly began building the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center , a facility near Dimona housing a nuclear reactor and reprocessing plant in the late 1950s. The first extensive details of the weapons program came in October 5, 1986, with media coverage of revelations from Mordechai Vanunu , a technician formerly employed at the center. Vanunu was soon kidnapped by the Mossad and brought back to Israel, where he was sentenced to 18 years in prison for treason and espionage . Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control . Washington Report on Middle East Affairs . Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists . 50 (4): 42. There are a wide range of estimates as to the size of the Israeli nuclear arsenal. "Colin Powell leaked emails: Israel has '200 nukes all pointed at Iran', former US secretary of state says" . A Propensity for Conflict: Potential Scenarios and Outcomes of War in the Middle East", Jane's Intelligence Review (special report) (14): 14– 5 . Center for Strategic and International Studies . Federation of American Scientists . Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars . The New York Times . The New York Times . "Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968" (historical documents) . Office of the Historian . [Vanunu blew] the whistle on Israel's secret nuclear activities....It was a decision that led him first to London and the Sunday Times - then to Rome and kidnapping by Israeli intelligence service Mossad - then back to Israel and a long jail sentence. There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).

Israel's possible control of nuclear weapons See also: Israel and weapons of mass destruction The State of Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons . Estimates of Israel's stockpile range between 80 and 400 nuclear warheads , and the country is believed to possess the ability to deliver them in several methods, including by aircraft, as submarine-launched cruise missiles , and via the Jericho series of intermediate to intercontinental range ballistic missiles . Its first deliverable nuclear weapon is thought to have been completed in late 1966 or early 1967; which would make it the sixth country in the world to have developed them. However, Israel maintains a policy of deliberate ambiguity , never officially denying nor admitting to having nuclear weapons, instead repeating over the years that "Israel will not be the first country to introduce nuclear weapons to the Middle East ". Israel has also declined to sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), despite international pressure to do so, saying that would be contrary to its national security interests. Additionally, Israel developed the Begin Doctrine of counter-proliferation and preventive strikes , denying other regional actors the ability to acquire their own nuclear weapons. The Israeli Air Force conducted Operation Opera and Operation Orchard , destroying the Iraqi and Syrian nuclear reactors in 1981 and 2007, respectively, and the Stuxnet malware that severely damaged Iranian nuclear facilities in 2010 is thought to have been developed jointly by the United States and Israel. As of 2019, Israel remains the only country in the Middle East believed to possess nuclear weapons. The Samson Option refers to Israel's deterrence strategy of massive retaliation with nuclear weapons as a "last resort" against a country whose military has invaded and/or destroyed much of Israel. Israel began to investigate the nuclear field soon after it declared independence in 1948 and, with French co-operation, secretly began building the Negev Nuclear Research Center , a facility near Dimona housing a nuclear reactor and reprocessing plant in the late 1950s. The first extensive details of the weapons program came on October 5, 1986, with media coverage of revelations from Mordechai Vanunu , a technician formerly employed at the center. Vanunu was soon kidnapped by the Mossad and brought back to Israel, where he was sentenced to 18 years in prison for treason and espionage . Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control . Washington Report on Middle East Affairs . Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists . 50 (4): 42. "Colin Powell leaked emails: Israel has '200 nukes all pointed at Iran', former US secretary of state says" . Center for Strategic and International Studies . Federation of American Scientists . Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars . The New York Times . The New York Times . "Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968" (historical documents) . Office of the Historian . [Vanunu blew] the whistle on Israel's secret nuclear activities....It was a decision that led him first to London and the Sunday Times - then to Rome and kidnapping by Israeli intelligence service Mossad - then back to Israel and a long jail sentence. There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).