TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel remains resolute in its aim to dismantle Iran’s nuclear ambitions, driven by concerns that Iran’s secretive pursuit of nuclear weapons poses a grave threat to its very survival.
Contrasting with its outspoken stance on Iran, Israel has long maintained an official silence about its own nuclear capabilities, which have been widely speculated to make it the only Middle Eastern state with such an arsenal. This deliberate ambiguity, as highlighted by experts, strengthens Israel’s deterrent posture against potential foes like Iran without triggering an arms race or drawing preemptive strikes against itself.
Israel is among a select few nations that have not signed the global nuclear nonproliferation treaty. This allows the country to sidestep international demands to disarm or permits inspections of its facilities, a position critiqued by countries like Iran for perceived double standards by Western countries, which rigorously scrutinize Iran’s nuclear intentions while overlooking Israel’s suspected stockpile.
Recently, the U.S. military intervened by striking three nuclear-related sites in Iran, further aligning itself with Israel’s assertive measures to hinder Tehran’s nuclear development.
### Israel’s Nuclear Strategy: A Historical Perspective
Israel initiated its nuclear program in 1958, with the establishment of the Negev Nuclear Research Center in Dimona, under Prime Minister David Ben Gurion. Situated in a remote desert region, the facility was part of a strategic decision to afford the young nation a vital deterrent amidst hostile neighbors. Originally disguised as a fabric factory to U.S. authorities, Dimona’s purpose remained concealed until its revelation in the 1970s.
Historian accounts, including a study by Hans M. Kristensen and Matt Korda at the Federation of American Scientists, confirm that by the early 1970s, Israel was capable of deploying nuclear warheads, derived from plutonium produced at Dimona. However, this policy of non-disclosure faced a setback in 1986, when Mordechai Vanunu, a former technician, exposed details of the nuclear reactor operations. He subsequently spent 18 years imprisoned for treason and is still barred from interacting with foreigners or leaving Israel.
### A Report on Israel’s Nuclear Arsenal
Estimates suggest that Israel possesses between 80 to 200 nuclear warheads, with a conservative guess leaning towards the lower figure. These capabilities include approximately 1,110 kilograms (2,425 pounds) of plutonium, potent enough for fashioning around 277 nuclear weapons, according to the Nuclear Threat Initiative. Additionally, Israel’s arsenal is strengthened by six submarines with the capacity to deploy nuclear-tipped cruise missiles and ballistic missiles capable of traveling up to 6,500 kilometers (4,000 miles). German support has been pivotal in supplying these submarines, which currently dock in Haifa.
### The Middle Eastern Nuclear Conundrum
The nuclear landscape in the Middle East, characterized by unstable governments and shifting alliances, heightens the risks associated with nuclear weapons, notes Or Rabinowitz, an academic affiliated with Hebrew University and Stanford University. She cautions that if faced with extreme threats—such as an imminent mass destruction attack—Israel could contemplate using its nuclear stockpile.
Besides Israel, other countries such as India, Pakistan, and South Sudan have also opted out of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Meanwhile, North Korea chose to withdraw entirely. Iran, which remains a participant of the treaty, faced censure from the U.N. nuclear watchdog recently for not honoring its responsibilities, preceding Israel’s military operations.
Susie Snyder from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, who advocates for universal compliance with U.N. treaties, argues that Israel’s strategic ambiguity has allowed it to dodge more intense global oversight. This policy arguably underscores the West’s inefficiencies in curtailing nuclear proliferation within the region.
The statement reflects a reluctance among Western nations to confront their own roles in the issue, as these challenges are a significant aspect of geopolitical assessments and negotiations concerning nuclear arms in the Middle East.