What about Israel’s nuclear weapons?

Jos

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Feb 6, 2010
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Readers periodically ask me some variation on this question: “Why does the press follow every jot and tittle of Iran’s nuclear program, but we never see any stories about Israel’s nuclear weapons capability?”

It’s a fair question. Going back 10 years into Post archives, I could not find any in-depth reporting on Israeli nuclear capabilities, although national security writer Walter Pincus has touched on it many times in his articles and columns.

I spoke with several experts in the nuclear and nonproliferation fields , and they say that the lack of reporting on Israel’s nuclear weapons is real — and frustrating. There are some obvious reasons for this, and others that are not so obvious.

First, Israel refuses to acknowledge publicly that it has nuclear weapons. The U.S. government also officially does not acknowledge the existence of such a program. Israel’s official position, as reiterated by Aaron Sagui, spokesman for the Israeli Embassy here, is that “Israel will not be the first country to introduce nuclear weapons into the Middle East. Israel supports a Middle East free of all weapons of mass destruction following the attainment of peace.” The “introduce” language is purposefully vague, but experts say it means that Israel will not openly test a weapon or declare publicly that it has one.

George Perkovich, director of the nuclear policy program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said there are benign and not-so-benign reasons that U.S. officials are so tight-lipped. The United States and Israel are allies and friends. “Do you ‘out’ your friends?” he asked.

And not being open about Israel’s nuclear weapons serves both U.S. and Israeli interests, Perkovich noted. If Israel were public about its nukes, or brandished its program recklessly — as North Korea does every time it wants something — it would put more pressure on Arab states to obtain their own bomb.

Among the less benign reasons U.S. sources don’t leak is that it can hurt your career. Said Perkovich: “It’s like all things having to do with Israel and the United States. If you want to get ahead, you don’t talk about it; you don’t criticize Israel, you protect Israel. You don’t talk about illegal settlements on the West Bank even though everyone knows they are there.”
Patrick Pexton: What about Israel’s nuclear weapons? - The Washington Post
 
Readers periodically ask me some variation on this question: “Why does the press follow every jot and tittle of Iran’s nuclear program, but we never see any stories about Israel’s nuclear weapons capability?”

It’s a fair question. Going back 10 years into Post archives, I could not find any in-depth reporting on Israeli nuclear capabilities, although national security writer Walter Pincus has touched on it many times in his articles and columns.

I spoke with several experts in the nuclear and nonproliferation fields , and they say that the lack of reporting on Israel’s nuclear weapons is real — and frustrating. There are some obvious reasons for this, and others that are not so obvious.

First, Israel refuses to acknowledge publicly that it has nuclear weapons. The U.S. government also officially does not acknowledge the existence of such a program. Israel’s official position, as reiterated by Aaron Sagui, spokesman for the Israeli Embassy here, is that “Israel will not be the first country to introduce nuclear weapons into the Middle East. Israel supports a Middle East free of all weapons of mass destruction following the attainment of peace.” The “introduce” language is purposefully vague, but experts say it means that Israel will not openly test a weapon or declare publicly that it has one.

George Perkovich, director of the nuclear policy program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said there are benign and not-so-benign reasons that U.S. officials are so tight-lipped. The United States and Israel are allies and friends. “Do you ‘out’ your friends?” he asked.

And not being open about Israel’s nuclear weapons serves both U.S. and Israeli interests, Perkovich noted. If Israel were public about its nukes, or brandished its program recklessly — as North Korea does every time it wants something — it would put more pressure on Arab states to obtain their own bomb.

Among the less benign reasons U.S. sources don’t leak is that it can hurt your career. Said Perkovich: “It’s like all things having to do with Israel and the United States. If you want to get ahead, you don’t talk about it; you don’t criticize Israel, you protect Israel. You don’t talk about illegal settlements on the West Bank even though everyone knows they are there.”
Patrick Pexton: What about Israel’s nuclear weapons? - The Washington Post
Israel's nukes are about the same as Tinmore's 'bottle rockets' and are not to be worried about. :D
 
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“It’s like all things having to do with Israel and the United States. If you want to get ahead, you don’t talk about it; you don’t criticize Israel"

If you want to know where the power lies, then ask whom you cannot criticize. --Kevin Strom


As an American, how do you feel about that?
 
UN weapons inspectors once were in Israel, but Israel actively blocked them from inspections and eventually the weapon's inspectors gave up. Israel had developed nuclear weapons by the 1967 war, which was their trump card. Israel is only one of a very few countries in the world that has refused to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Israel itself has been involved in a number of scandals relating to selling nuclear technology to other countries. Israel developed nuclear weapons through a combination of willful aid from western powers and by spies stealing nuclear technology from western powers.
 
“It’s like all things having to do with Israel and the United States. If you want to get ahead, you don’t talk about it; you don’t criticize Israel"

If you want to know where the power lies, then ask whom you cannot criticize. --Kevin Strom


As an American, how do you feel about that?
Israel + U.S. = Allies
 
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Operation Plumbat is the name given to what's believed to have been an Israeli covert operation in 1968 to obtain yellowcake (processed uranium ore) to support the Israeli nuclear weapons effort.[1]

France stopped supplying Israel with uranium fuel for the Dimona nuclear reactor after the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. Numerous sources believe that in 1968 Israel managed to obtain 200 tonnes of yellowcake from the Belgian mining company Union Minière shipped out of Antwerp to Genoa for a European front company by transferring the ore to another vessel at sea. This Mossad covert operation violated Euratom controls of nuclear materials
Operation Plumbat - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
“It’s like all things having to do with Israel and the United States. If you want to get ahead, you don’t talk about it; you don’t criticize Israel"

If you want to know where the power lies, then ask whom you cannot criticize. --Kevin Strom


As an American, how do you feel about that?
Israel + U.S. = Allies

maybe we're israel's ally, but i'm not thinkin' they are our ally.

christ, they won't even give us back the documents pollard stole.

seriously, what has israel ever done for us?
 
UN weapons inspectors once were in Israel, but Israel actively blocked them from inspections and eventually the weapon's inspectors gave up. Israel had developed nuclear weapons by the 1967 war, which was their trump card. Israel is only one of a very few countries in the world that has refused to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Israel itself has been involved in a number of scandals relating to selling nuclear technology to other countries. Israel developed nuclear weapons through a combination of willful aid from western powers and by spies stealing nuclear technology from western powers.

Poor Ariux tried to create the impression that UN officials have a "RIGHT" to inspect the weapons of any country they enter and somehow Israel would not let them ROLMAO
Poor Ariux ----Israel developed nuclear weapons long before 1967 even I knew that as a kid Israel sold no nuclear technology to anyone Israeli citizens did not have to spy on anyone----several were the original developers of the first nuclear bombs long before 1967 Ariux is upset because Jewish physicists did not stay in germany to help her hero ADOLF While Israel has had nuclear weapons for more than 50 years-----no one has ever died because of it Since that time muslims seeking THE CALIPHATE DELUSION have murdered upwards of 12 million people in massive genocides The Iranians seek the CALIPHATE DELUSION as does ARIUX
 
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Ariux tried to create the impression that UN officials have a "RIGHT" to inspect the weapons of any country they enter and somehow Israel would not let them ROLMAO
The UN officials have a "RIGHT" to inspect the peaceful Nuclear installations of signatories of the NNPT, which Iran has signed, Israel has not, therefor any Aid given to israel by the US is in violation of the US Law


In 2010, The Guardian released South African government documents that it alleged confirmed the existence of Israel's nuclear arsenal. According to the newspaper, the documents are minutes taken by the South African side of alleged meetings between senior officials from the two countries in 1975. The Guardian alleged that these documents reveal that Israel had offered to sell South Africa nuclear weapons that year. The documents appeared to confirm information disclosed by a former South African naval commander, who said there was an agreement between Israel and South Africa involving an offer by Israel to arm eight Jericho missiles with atomic bombs.
Nuclear weapons and Israel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
"Readers periodically ask me some variation on this question: “Why does the press follow every jot and tittle of Iran’s nuclear program, but we never see any stories about Israel’s nuclear weapons capability?”""
The sheep nature of his readers is quite obvious, indeed.
First, Israel refuses to acknowledge publicly that it has nuclear weapons. The U.S. government also officially does not acknowledge the existence of such a program. And not being open about Israel’s nuclear weapons serves both U.S. and Israeli interests, Perkovich noted. If Israel were public about its nukes, or brandished its program recklessly — as North Korea does every time it wants something — it would put more pressure on Arab states to obtain their own bomb.
And Israel is not a signatory to non-proliferation-something too, of course. But Iran is.
Said Perkovich: “It’s like all things having to do with Israel and the United States. If you want to get ahead, you don’t talk about it; you don’t criticize Israel, you protect Israel. You don’t talk about illegal settlements on the West Bank even though everyone knows they are there.”
Calling something illegal requires clarification as to what is/was that state, the land of which that alleged "illegal" resides on, to be less phony, at least. Parroting Hansel's "illegal" legal opinion isn't an excuse, of course.
 
Ariux tried to create the impression that UN officials have a "RIGHT" to inspect the weapons of any country they enter and somehow Israel would not let them ROLMAO
The UN officials have a "RIGHT" to inspect the peaceful Nuclear installations of signatories of the NNPT, which Iran has signed, Israel has not, therefor any Aid given to israel by the US is in violation of the US Law


In 2010, The Guardian released South African government documents that it alleged confirmed the existence of Israel's nuclear arsenal. According to the newspaper, the documents are minutes taken by the South African side of alleged meetings between senior officials from the two countries in 1975. The Guardian alleged that these documents reveal that Israel had offered to sell South Africa nuclear weapons that year. The documents appeared to confirm information disclosed by a former South African naval commander, who said there was an agreement between Israel and South Africa involving an offer by Israel to
arm eight Jericho missiles with atomic bombs.
Nuclear weapons and Israel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



selling the finished product is not the same as selling the "TECHNOLOGY" silly
 
The Symington Amendment is legislation introduced by Stuart Symington, a Democratic senator from Missouri, authored to strengthen the US position on nuclear non-proliferation.
The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 was amended by the Symington Amendment (Section 669 of the FAA) in 1976. It banned U.S. economic, and military assistance, and export credits to countries that deliver or receive, acquire or transfer nuclear enrichment technology when they do not comply with IAEA regulations and inspections. This provision, as amended, is now contained in Section 101 of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA).PROHIBITIONS; SAFEGUARDS AND MANAGEMENT. —Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, no funds made available to carry out the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or this Act may be used for the purpose of providing economic assistance (including assistance under chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961), providing military assistance or grant military education and training, providing assistance under chapter 6 of part II of that Act, or extending military credits or making guarantees, to any country which the President determines delivers nuclear enrichment equipment, materials, or technology to any other country on or after August 4, 1977, or receives such equipment, materials, or technology from any other country on or after August 4, 1977, unless before such delivery—

(1) the supplying country and receiving country have reached agreement to place all such equipment, materials, or technology, upon delivery, under multilateral auspices and management when available; and

(2) the recipient country has entered into an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency to place all such equipment, materials, technology, and all nuclear fuel and facilities in such country under the safeguards system of such Agency.

(b) CERTIFICATION BY PRESIDENT OF NECESSITY OF CONTINUED ASSISTANCE; DISAPPROVAL BY CONGRESS.—

(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the President may furnish assistance which would otherwise be prohibited under such subsection if he determines and certifies in writing to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate that—

(A) the termination of such assistance would have a serious adverse effect on vital United States interests; and

(B) he has received reliable assurances that the country in question will not acquire or develop nuclear weapons or assist other nations in doing so.
Symington Amendment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
Last edited:
The Symington Amendment is legislation introduced by Stuart Symington, a Democratic senator from Missouri, authored to strengthen the US position on nuclear non-proliferation.
The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 was amended by the Symington Amendment (Section 669 of the FAA) in 1976. It banned U.S. economic, and military assistance, and export credits to countries that deliver or receive, acquire or transfer nuclear enrichment technology when they do not comply with IAEA regulations and inspections. This provision, as amended, is now contained in Section 101 of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA).PROHIBITIONS; SAFEGUARDS AND MANAGEMENT. —Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, no funds made available to carry out the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or this Act may be used for the purpose of providing economic assistance (including assistance under chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961), providing military assistance or grant military education and training, providing assistance under chapter 6 of part II of that Act, or extending military credits or making guarantees, to any country which the President determines delivers nuclear enrichment equipment, materials, or technology to any other country on or after August 4, 1977, or receives such equipment, materials, or technology from any other country on or after August 4, 1977, unless before such delivery—

(1) the supplying country and receiving country have reached agreement to place all such equipment, materials, or technology, upon delivery, under multilateral auspices and management when available; and

(2) the recipient country has entered into an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency to place all such equipment, materials, technology, and all nuclear fuel and facilities in such country under the safeguards system of such Agency.

(b) CERTIFICATION BY PRESIDENT OF NECESSITY OF CONTINUED ASSISTANCE; DISAPPROVAL BY CONGRESS.—

(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the President may furnish assistance which would otherwise be prohibited under such subsection if he determines and certifies in writing to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate that—

(A) the termination of such assistance would have a serious adverse effect on vital United States interests; and

(B) he has received reliable assurances that the country in question will not acquire or develop nuclear weapons or assist other nations in doing so.
Symington Amendment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Regardless, Jos. I think the world has more to worry about with Islamic extremists being able to steal nuclear weapons from places like Pakistan.
 
The Symington Amendment is legislation introduced by Stuart Symington, a Democratic senator from Missouri, authored to strengthen the US position on nuclear non-proliferation.
The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 was amended by the Symington Amendment (Section 669 of the FAA) in 1976. It banned U.S. economic, and military assistance, and export credits to countries that deliver or receive, acquire or transfer nuclear enrichment technology when they do not comply with IAEA regulations and inspections. This provision, as amended, is now contained in Section 101 of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA).PROHIBITIONS; SAFEGUARDS AND MANAGEMENT. —Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, no funds made available to carry out the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or this Act may be used for the purpose of providing economic assistance (including assistance under chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961), providing military assistance or grant military education and training, providing assistance under chapter 6 of part II of that Act, or extending military credits or making guarantees, to any country which the President determines delivers nuclear enrichment equipment, materials, or technology to any other country on or after August 4, 1977, or receives such equipment, materials, or technology from any other country on or after August 4, 1977, unless before such delivery—

(1) the supplying country and receiving country have reached agreement to place all such equipment, materials, or technology, upon delivery, under multilateral auspices and management when available; and

(2) the recipient country has entered into an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency to place all such equipment, materials, technology, and all nuclear fuel and facilities in such country under the safeguards system of such Agency.

(b) CERTIFICATION BY PRESIDENT OF NECESSITY OF CONTINUED ASSISTANCE; DISAPPROVAL BY CONGRESS.—

(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the President may furnish assistance which would otherwise be prohibited under such subsection if he determines and certifies in writing to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate that—

(A) the termination of such assistance would have a serious adverse effect on vital United States interests; and

(B) he has received reliable assurances that the country in question will not acquire or develop nuclear weapons or assist other nations in doing so.
Symington Amendment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Regardless, Jos. I think the world has more to worry about with Islamic extremists being able to steal nuclear weapons from places like Pakistan.

That may be so, do you favor a waver of US law in benefit of the jewish state?
 
The Symington Amendment is legislation introduced by Stuart Symington, a Democratic senator from Missouri, authored to strengthen the US position on nuclear non-proliferation.

Symington Amendment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Regardless, Jos. I think the world has more to worry about with Islamic extremists being able to steal nuclear weapons from places like Pakistan.

That may be so, do you favor a waver of US law in benefit of the jewish state?
No waiver, but let's be practical here. We have no idea how secure these nuclear weapons are in Pakistan. Do you really trust the Islamic extremists? I just hope that nobody here (or any innocent person) is in the vicinity in case one of them sets off a suitcase bomb. I hope you wish the same for the rest of us.
 
Regardless, Jos. I think the world has more to worry about with Islamic extremists being able to steal nuclear weapons from places like Pakistan.

That may be so, do you favor a waver of US law in benefit of the jewish state?
No waiver, but let's be practical here. We have no idea how secure these nuclear weapons are in Pakistan. Do you really trust the Islamic extremists? I just hope that nobody here (or any innocent person) is in the vicinity in case one of them sets off a suitcase bomb. I hope you wish the same for the rest of us.

Pakistan is very different from Iran, America seems to support Pakistan, as it did Iran Before the people had a revolution against the British/US installed Dictator.
Do you really trust the Islamic extremists?
Do you... trust ANY Religious extremists, jewish included?
Irans Nuclear program started under the Shah, and continues today under the watchful eye of The UN, as Iran has signed the NNPT which gives them the right to develop Nuclear energy for peaceful purpose's America is treaty bound to help them develop that aim too

Israel refuse's to sign the treaty, and has illegally held weapons, which they have threatened to use against Europe!
 
Israel has had Special Weapons for a very long time... I'd trust them over a regime that is motivated by religious extremism that views people who disagree with them as infidels which must be destroyed... This stuff really is pretty simple when you use common sense rather than emotional ideological thinking.
 
Israel has had Special Weapons for a very long time... I'd trust them over a regime that is motivated by religious extremism that views people who disagree with them as infidels which must be destroyed... This stuff really is pretty simple when you use common sense rather than emotional ideological thinking.

Do you think Israel should register their WMD's, being that Israel is run by Zionists a regime that is motivated by religious extremism that views people who disagree with them must be destroyed..?
This stuff really is pretty simple when you use common sense rather than emotional ideological thinking
 

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