A new report out of the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) has estimated the size of Israel’s nuclear weapons arsenal at 115 warheads, and notes that the nation is believed to have some 660kg of plutonium.
The report also says Israel has nuclear-capable cruise missiles and that, despite 1990s pledges to the US not to acquire “dual-use materials” from abroad, Israel continues to occasionally buy advanced equipment for its nuclear weapons program from abroad.
Israel is one of nine states that currently possess nuclear weapons in some form. They are the only one of these nations that does not publicly comment on the existence of its arsenal, and they have no safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Israel’s arsenal has caused considerable problems for efforts to establish a “nuclear-free zone” in the Middle East, with the Obama Administration at one point voting in favor of a nuclear-free proposal for the region then immediately condemning the proposal, after realizing Israel is the only nation in the region with such weapons.
Efforts to hold any NPT meetings on the nuclear-free zone have similarly stalled, with Israel refusing to take part, and accusing them of “unfairly” singling them out, and demanding the NPT shift the focus to Iran, who has a civilian nuclear program, but no weapons.
Only 116??? Doubtful.
*GOD BLESS AMERICA*
This is the stuff of nightmares. How on earth did the world allow this rogue, dangerously unbalanced state to acquire such an arsenal? Particularly Europeans, who have clearly not heard what the Israeli military historian martin van Creveld had to say: "We possess several hundred atomic warheads and rockets and can launch them at targets in all directions, perhaps even at Rome. Most European capitals are targets of our air force." Or if they did hear, have ignored the threat against their countries.
(God's) special people with special privileges
The problem with nuclear weapons is that they are militarily useless. They serve to frighten off enemies but any state that launched a nuclear first strike would become an instant pariah. Van Creveld's comment is well known in Europe, but since no European country has the slightest intention of attacking Israel, I don't see why it matters. Equally, Europe is America's forward base for the defence of Israel. If Israel attacked Europe, it would shoot itself in the foot. And that is to say nothing of the effect on Europe's Jewish population.
They are only militarily useless when there is a balance of terror, such as what existed between the US and the USSR during the Cold War. They weren't useless at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Horrific and unnecessary, yes, but not useless.
Small wonder Israel does not want to participate in any non-proliferation talks, as they are willing to sell nucs to select regimes. Declassified 1975 South African documents reveal that Israel offered to sell nucs to the the apartheid regime in power at the time. (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/may/23/israel-south-africa-nuclear-weapons).
A 1987 US Defense Dept report, “Critical Technology Assessment in Israel and NATO Nations,” points to US complicity in assisting Israel to develop its weapons, as well as the ongoing effort to cover it up in violation of its international non-proliferation obligations and in violation of US law. The Symington Amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 prohibits most U.S. foreign aid to any country found trafficking in nuclear enrichment equipment or technology outside international safeguards. The Glenn Amendment of 1977 calls for an end to US foreign aid to countries that import nuclear reprocessing technology. (https://www.rt.com/usa/232203-us-israel-nuclear-weapon/). According to these laws, even today, the US should withhold aid to Israel.
There is also evidence suggesting that Israel stole its original bomb-grade uranium from the US in the early 1960s. (http://thebulletin.org/did-israel-steal-bomb-grade-uranium-united-states7056). In 1976, when this claim was revived, President Carter instructed Zbigniew Brzezinski, then National Security adviser, to investigate the purported theft and subsequent cover-up. Brzezinski appears to have white washed Israeli involvement, or so we are told.
We tend to be convinced that the world's greatest threat to peace and stability is radical religion, but by emphasizing that the sole source of that fanaticism is always Islam, we have ignored reality. There are statements made by even high level officials in Israel which point to a posture every bit as vengeful as that of the Arab revenge cultures, should the moment arise.
The "Samson option" differs in scale but not in character from that of insurgent suicide bomber options. We can also see that definitions of the "destruction of Israel" are fluid, and subjective. Rabin was assassinated for someone's definition of that in making concessions to Palestinians. If certain kinds of people feel they are under attack, and have the power to resort to nukes, they could play Samson and attack just about any country they felt had it coming. When any nation, including this one, gives a lot of power to religious fanatics, and also has nukes, then the short part of human history in which there has been arms control looks like it may not hold. As we see, provocation is easy, and those people bent on self-destruction can manipulate it to take others with them.
The US Air Force Counter-Proliferation Center reported to Congress that Israel has over 400 nuclear weapons, including thermonuclear (H-bombs). That was over 15 years ago. So we are to think it shrank by 75% in the last 15 years?
http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/cpc-pubs/farr…
I've always wondered if Israel really has deliverable nuclear weapons, although I'm sure it could develop them if it wanted to. There are enough competent Jewish nuclear scientists in the world for that. And their air force could probably deliver US nuclear weapons. But nuclear weapons are useless other than as a deterrent, so nuclear states tend to flaunt their weapons, and even exaggerate the size of their arsenal. Israel, on the other hand, hides its weapons. It reminds me a bit too much of the classic film scene where the bad guy comes up behind someone with his hand in his jacket pocket, sticks his finger into their back and says "don't turn around, I've got a gun".
Terror nation 4times….the 5th is to be remembered
I guess the lesson is, don't mess with Israel. But at the same time, don't think even they are immune to being led by the occasional fanatic.
Given the lethality of these weapons, and the timeframe in which the human race is supposed to keep control over them, plus the threat to the planet of even a power plant the long-term survival of our civilization looks more shaky than it has in some time.
Where are the calls for immediate disarmament under the daily threat of an attack by the US? Where are the endless UN resolutions to strangle their economy? Where are the calls for regime change for killing and ethnically killing their own people? Where are the congressional votes to block millions of dollars in foreign aid and arms flowing to a terrorist nation? Look at the same clowns running for office, that the sheeple will vote for over and over again!
As you are aware (or should be aware) all aid to Israel is completely illegal under the Symington Amendment, which prohibits any aid from going to a nuclear armed country which refuses to become signatory to the NNPT, and refuses to have its nuclear facilities inspected.
All the 115 nukes won't help because according to a 15 Year old Israeli boy who had NDE and came back to tell the sad news that WW3 started on 11 Sept 2015 ( in slow mo) and will suddenly "explode' and the war after that will last for 2 weeks . Watch:
Could the USA and Europe be so afraid of such an arsenal to do anything about Israel actions?