Israel’s weapons of
mass destruction
aPril 2012
Much direct and indirect evidence shows clearly
that Israel is in possession of a large nuclear
arsenal, together with chemical and biological
weapons, and the means of delivering them over
long distances.
janes.com), which provides expert
analysis of global military and political structures, states that israel’s armed forces are “head and shoulders above those of its neighbours, both
in technical sophistication and in
the available range of weapons and sensors, including nuclear weapons and missile systems.”
janes.com), which provides expert
analysis of global military and political structures, states that israel’s armed forces are “head and shoulders above those of its neighbours, both
in technical sophistication and in
the available range of weapons and sensors, including nuclear weapons and missile systems.”
‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’
ane’s sentinel Country assessment (sentinel.
TJ
israel has not joined the nuclear non-Proliferation
treaty (nPt), of which every other state in the middle
east is a member, and has also refused to support
a proposed fissile material Cut-off treaty, designed
to prohibit the further production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. israel has signed but not ratified the Comprehensive test Ban treaty. this means that israel
is the only nation in the world that has not joined any of the major treaties dealing
with nuclear weapons.
over the past 40 years the Us and
israel have agreed that israel’s possession of nuclear weapons should not be
acknowledged — what avner Cohen, author of Israel and the bomb,4 calls a policy of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’. according
to Cohen this understanding was first reached in 1969, in a verbal agreement
between President richard nixon and Prime minister golda meir, and has been tacitly maintained ever since.
occasionally, the mask has slipped. israeli Prime minister ehud olmert
was sharply criticised in israel when he accidentally acknowledged
possession of nuclear weapons in an interview on german tV (12 december
2006), by talking about iran “aspiring to have nuclear weapons, like
america, france, israel and russia”.
The UN General Assembly and the IAEA General Conference have adopted 13 resolutions since 1987, appealing to Israel to join the NPT,
but all have been ignored.
Delivery systems
a proposed fissile material Cut-off treaty, designed
to prohibit the further production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. israel has signed but not ratified the Comprehensive test Ban treaty. this means that israel
is the only nation in the world that has not joined any of the major treaties dealing
with nuclear weapons.
over the past 40 years the Us and
israel have agreed that israel’s possession of nuclear weapons should not be
acknowledged — what avner Cohen, author of Israel and the bomb,4 calls a policy of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’. according
to Cohen this understanding was first reached in 1969, in a verbal agreement
between President richard nixon and Prime minister golda meir, and has been tacitly maintained ever since.
occasionally, the mask has slipped. israeli Prime minister ehud olmert
was sharply criticised in israel when he accidentally acknowledged
possession of nuclear weapons in an interview on german tV (12 december
2006), by talking about iran “aspiring to have nuclear weapons, like
america, france, israel and russia”.
The UN General Assembly and the IAEA General Conference have adopted 13 resolutions since 1987, appealing to Israel to join the NPT,
but all have been ignored.
Delivery systems
he nuclear arsenal
By 1995, according to the
United states air force Counter
Proliferation Center (a Us military
source), a complete repertoire
already existed, including neutron
bombs, 7 nuclear mines, ‘suitcase’
bombs and submarine-borne
bombs.
By 2010, international sources reported that israel had up to 300 nuclear warheads, about the same quantity as the UK.1 these include both intercontinental- range thermonuclear weapons and artillery-delivered, enhanced-radiation tactical weapons (‘neutron bombs’).
By 2010, international sources reported that israel had up to 300 nuclear warheads, about the same quantity as the UK.1 these include both intercontinental- range thermonuclear weapons and artillery-delivered, enhanced-radiation tactical weapons (‘neutron bombs’).
Jericho III
the weapons are developed
and produced at a number of nuclear facilities in israel, from the nuclear reactor at dimona in the negev, to nuclear storage bases at eilabun near the sea of galilee and at tirosh, south of tel aviv, and
the national weapons testing laboratory at soreq, near tirosh.2 no inspection of these facilities by the international atomic energy authority (iaea) has been allowed.
Very little is known about israel’s disposal of nuclear waste, but Palestinian farmers in villages south of hebron in the occupied territories have reported truckloads of waste being buried by israeli soldiers
in white overalls, who temporarily declared the area a closed military zone. much higher rates of cancer, mutation and sterility have also been reported in the area.3
and produced at a number of nuclear facilities in israel, from the nuclear reactor at dimona in the negev, to nuclear storage bases at eilabun near the sea of galilee and at tirosh, south of tel aviv, and
the national weapons testing laboratory at soreq, near tirosh.2 no inspection of these facilities by the international atomic energy authority (iaea) has been allowed.
Very little is known about israel’s disposal of nuclear waste, but Palestinian farmers in villages south of hebron in the occupied territories have reported truckloads of waste being buried by israeli soldiers
in white overalls, who temporarily declared the area a closed military zone. much higher rates of cancer, mutation and sterility have also been reported in the area.3
i
previously the limit of the range was hundreds of kilometres, now it is many thousands.
previously the limit of the range was hundreds of kilometres, now it is many thousands.
n recent years, israel has markedly increased the
range of its delivery systems which are capable
of delivering various forms of wmd. whereas
israel has approximately 50 Jericho II missiles with
a 1,500km range and 1,000kg payload.
on 2 november 2011 israeli defence officials announced the successful test-firing of the new, Jericho III missile from the Palmachim military base. this is capable of carrying nuclear warheads and has
on 2 november 2011 israeli defence officials announced the successful test-firing of the new, Jericho III missile from the Palmachim military base. this is capable of carrying nuclear warheads and has
5
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a range of over 4000km, so that most of europe and
much of asia are within range.6
the Shavit space launch vehicle also has a range of 4,500km with a 150–250kg payload. some authorities suggest that a range of 7,000km could eventually be possible.
in addition, israel has fighter aircraft, the F-15, F-16, F-4E, F-15I and the F-16I, which are capable of long- range operations and of carrying nuclear and chemical warheads.
when the Us rejected israeli requests for cruise missiles such as the tomahawk, in 1998, israel developed its own gabriel-4 anti-ship cruise missile, with a 200km range and 500kg payload.
it later developed the Popeye turbo air-launch cruise missiles with a 200–300km range and unknown payload. (the Popeye has variants that can be deployed on submarines.)
over the last 10 years israel has purchased several Dolphin submarines from germany, capable of carrying nuclear warheads, presenting a threat which is both wide-ranging and difficult to monitor.7
in 2009 the obama administration approved the delivery of over 100 Harpoon sea-to-sea missiles to israel, with a 120km range and 220kg payload — again capable of carrying nuclear warheads.8
The whistle- bilower
n september 1986, mordechai Vanunu, an israeli technician who had
worked at the secret dimona site for eight years, gave the sunday times newspaper the first detailed account of israel’s nuclear capability.9
Vanunu was kidnapped
by mossad agents in italy, smuggled to israel and imprisoned for eighteen years, 11 of those in solitary confinement. since his release he has been subject to severe restrictions, preventing him from leaving the country and even talking to foreigners. in 2010 he was jailed again, for violating those restrictions, and was declared a prisoner of conscience by amnesty international.
Cihemical and biological weapons
srael is not a signatory to the Biological and toxin weapons Convention, although it has signed — but not ratified — the Chemical weapons Convention.
it has revealed virtually nothing about its capabilities in the field of chemical and biological weapons and has never issued a public statement relating to them. as with nuclear weapons, israel maintains a policy of ambiguity. however, a series
of leaks and reports by Us and other official bodies suggests that israel maintains an advanced research
the Shavit space launch vehicle also has a range of 4,500km with a 150–250kg payload. some authorities suggest that a range of 7,000km could eventually be possible.
in addition, israel has fighter aircraft, the F-15, F-16, F-4E, F-15I and the F-16I, which are capable of long- range operations and of carrying nuclear and chemical warheads.
when the Us rejected israeli requests for cruise missiles such as the tomahawk, in 1998, israel developed its own gabriel-4 anti-ship cruise missile, with a 200km range and 500kg payload.
it later developed the Popeye turbo air-launch cruise missiles with a 200–300km range and unknown payload. (the Popeye has variants that can be deployed on submarines.)
over the last 10 years israel has purchased several Dolphin submarines from germany, capable of carrying nuclear warheads, presenting a threat which is both wide-ranging and difficult to monitor.7
in 2009 the obama administration approved the delivery of over 100 Harpoon sea-to-sea missiles to israel, with a 120km range and 220kg payload — again capable of carrying nuclear warheads.8
The whistle- bilower
n september 1986, mordechai Vanunu, an israeli technician who had
worked at the secret dimona site for eight years, gave the sunday times newspaper the first detailed account of israel’s nuclear capability.9
Vanunu was kidnapped
by mossad agents in italy, smuggled to israel and imprisoned for eighteen years, 11 of those in solitary confinement. since his release he has been subject to severe restrictions, preventing him from leaving the country and even talking to foreigners. in 2010 he was jailed again, for violating those restrictions, and was declared a prisoner of conscience by amnesty international.
Cihemical and biological weapons
srael is not a signatory to the Biological and toxin weapons Convention, although it has signed — but not ratified — the Chemical weapons Convention.
it has revealed virtually nothing about its capabilities in the field of chemical and biological weapons and has never issued a public statement relating to them. as with nuclear weapons, israel maintains a policy of ambiguity. however, a series
of leaks and reports by Us and other official bodies suggests that israel maintains an advanced research
and development programme in this field.10
from 1948, david Ben-gurion, israel’s first prime
minister, was active in recruiting top scientists in the field, and made no secret of the importance he placed on developing israel’s capabilities. israeli research related to biological weapons is based at the israeli Centre for Biological research, founded in 1952, in the town of nes Ziona close to tel aviv.11
according to international sources,12 the typhoid epidemic that spread in acre in the days before the town fell to the israeli forces in 1948 was the result of the deliberate contamination of acre’s water supply by the israeli defence force (idf). egyptian sources, on 29 may 1948, also stated that four israeli soldiers were caught trying to infect artesian wells in gaza with “a liquid, which was discovered to contain the germs of dysentery and typhoid.”
more recently, in 2001, foreign observers reported apparent poison gas attacks on demonstrators in gaza and Bethlehem. the idf frequently uses tear gas, but the effects on this occasion were serious: severe vomiting, muscular paralysis, convulsions and seizures, leading to the hospitalisation of dozens of victims. the effects lasted several days, even weeks.13 the idf dismissed the reports, saying the symptoms were due to ‘anxiety’.
the use of white phosphorus, while not illegal in some battlefield situations, is prohibited as a weapon against civilians especially in crowded residential areas, as was the case during israel’s operation Cast lead in gaza two years ago. the Un goldstone report condemned this as just one of a number of war crimes committed by the idf.
Cooperation with Western powers
in the late 1950s France built the dimona nuclear reactor, which is still the source of israel’s
14
plutonium. in the sixties it helped israel develop its
first Jericho i missile.
the reactor’s heavy water was supplied by Norway
in 1959, and more was supplied in 1963 by the US. israel got further help from the Us, in the form of a small thermal research reactor at soreq. (this was the early training ground for israeli nuclear technicians.)
President Kennedy refused to sign any security arrangement with israel, but his assassination brought the pro-israel lyndon Johnson to power. subsequent Us administrations have all cooperated with israel in
the development and supply of both conventional and nuclear weaponry and their delivery systems. fifty f-16s were actually given to israel as a reward for ‘restraint’ during the 1991 gulf war.15 more recently, President obama offered israel $3 billion worth of fighter planes to extend the non-existent freeze on settlement building.
the vast amount of money the Us pours into israel (approximately $92bn since 1949) is partly to be explained in terms of the leverage provided by israel’s nuclear programme. in the words of amos rubin, economic adviser to Prime minister yitzhak shamir: “if left to its own israel will have no choice but to fall
from 1948, david Ben-gurion, israel’s first prime
minister, was active in recruiting top scientists in the field, and made no secret of the importance he placed on developing israel’s capabilities. israeli research related to biological weapons is based at the israeli Centre for Biological research, founded in 1952, in the town of nes Ziona close to tel aviv.11
according to international sources,12 the typhoid epidemic that spread in acre in the days before the town fell to the israeli forces in 1948 was the result of the deliberate contamination of acre’s water supply by the israeli defence force (idf). egyptian sources, on 29 may 1948, also stated that four israeli soldiers were caught trying to infect artesian wells in gaza with “a liquid, which was discovered to contain the germs of dysentery and typhoid.”
more recently, in 2001, foreign observers reported apparent poison gas attacks on demonstrators in gaza and Bethlehem. the idf frequently uses tear gas, but the effects on this occasion were serious: severe vomiting, muscular paralysis, convulsions and seizures, leading to the hospitalisation of dozens of victims. the effects lasted several days, even weeks.13 the idf dismissed the reports, saying the symptoms were due to ‘anxiety’.
the use of white phosphorus, while not illegal in some battlefield situations, is prohibited as a weapon against civilians especially in crowded residential areas, as was the case during israel’s operation Cast lead in gaza two years ago. the Un goldstone report condemned this as just one of a number of war crimes committed by the idf.
Cooperation with Western powers
in the late 1950s France built the dimona nuclear reactor, which is still the source of israel’s
14
plutonium. in the sixties it helped israel develop its
first Jericho i missile.
the reactor’s heavy water was supplied by Norway
in 1959, and more was supplied in 1963 by the US. israel got further help from the Us, in the form of a small thermal research reactor at soreq. (this was the early training ground for israeli nuclear technicians.)
President Kennedy refused to sign any security arrangement with israel, but his assassination brought the pro-israel lyndon Johnson to power. subsequent Us administrations have all cooperated with israel in
the development and supply of both conventional and nuclear weaponry and their delivery systems. fifty f-16s were actually given to israel as a reward for ‘restraint’ during the 1991 gulf war.15 more recently, President obama offered israel $3 billion worth of fighter planes to extend the non-existent freeze on settlement building.
the vast amount of money the Us pours into israel (approximately $92bn since 1949) is partly to be explained in terms of the leverage provided by israel’s nuclear programme. in the words of amos rubin, economic adviser to Prime minister yitzhak shamir: “if left to its own israel will have no choice but to fall
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back on a riskier defence which will endanger itself and
the world at large... to enable israel to abstain from
dependence on nuclear arms calls for $2 to 3 billion
per year in U.s. aid.”16
in 1959, Britain sold israel 20 tonnes of heavy water, which is used to produce plutonium, via norway — though this only came to light in 2005. the UK currently has a flourishing arms trade with israel (see PsC fact sheet Palestinian Blood on British Hands), including supplying components for f16 aircraft and surface-to- air missiles.
with technical and financial assistance from the Us, israel is currently assembling one of the world’s most advanced missile defence systems. this, together
with access to Us real-time satellite data, will greatly strengthen israel’s strategic position in the region.
Links with Apartheid South Africa
documents recently declassified by the south african government show how israel and south africa entered into a secret agreement in 1975, part of which was a pledge by israel to supply nuclear know-how to the apartheid regime.17 in 1979 israel is widely believed to have conducted a joint nuclear test with south africa, following reports of other tests in 1963 and 1966.18
the israeli/south african collaboration did not
end with the bomb testing; it continued until the fall
of apartheid, especially with the developing and testing of medium range missiles and the supplying of uranium. in return, israel became a major trade outlet for south africa, to enable the apartheid state to avoid the international economic sanctions then in place. (in 1991, south africa became the first nuclear state to disarm and join the nPt.)
Israel and NATO
in 1987, israel and the Us signed a memorandum of Understanding which formally acknowledged israel as a non-nato ally with the same rights as nato allies. israel has participated in nato’s mediterranean dialogue since its inception in 1994, then in 2001 signed a security agreement with nato, and has undertaken joint exercises with a number of nato countries.
speaking in israel in 2005, nato’s secretary general, Jaap de hoop scheffer stated that, in relation to israel, “we try to move from dialogue to partnership”. israel’s concrete proposals included, he added, “the fight against terrorism, or joint military exercises where israel’s expertise is very much valued”.19
the Us has been particularly vocal in calling for even closer links. a paper by ronald asmus and Bruce Jackson suggested that “anchoring israel more closely with nato and the eU, can reduce its sense of isolation.”20 while there were repeated references to threats from nuclear weapons and the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the middle east, there were no
in 1959, Britain sold israel 20 tonnes of heavy water, which is used to produce plutonium, via norway — though this only came to light in 2005. the UK currently has a flourishing arms trade with israel (see PsC fact sheet Palestinian Blood on British Hands), including supplying components for f16 aircraft and surface-to- air missiles.
with technical and financial assistance from the Us, israel is currently assembling one of the world’s most advanced missile defence systems. this, together
with access to Us real-time satellite data, will greatly strengthen israel’s strategic position in the region.
Links with Apartheid South Africa
documents recently declassified by the south african government show how israel and south africa entered into a secret agreement in 1975, part of which was a pledge by israel to supply nuclear know-how to the apartheid regime.17 in 1979 israel is widely believed to have conducted a joint nuclear test with south africa, following reports of other tests in 1963 and 1966.18
the israeli/south african collaboration did not
end with the bomb testing; it continued until the fall
of apartheid, especially with the developing and testing of medium range missiles and the supplying of uranium. in return, israel became a major trade outlet for south africa, to enable the apartheid state to avoid the international economic sanctions then in place. (in 1991, south africa became the first nuclear state to disarm and join the nPt.)
Israel and NATO
in 1987, israel and the Us signed a memorandum of Understanding which formally acknowledged israel as a non-nato ally with the same rights as nato allies. israel has participated in nato’s mediterranean dialogue since its inception in 1994, then in 2001 signed a security agreement with nato, and has undertaken joint exercises with a number of nato countries.
speaking in israel in 2005, nato’s secretary general, Jaap de hoop scheffer stated that, in relation to israel, “we try to move from dialogue to partnership”. israel’s concrete proposals included, he added, “the fight against terrorism, or joint military exercises where israel’s expertise is very much valued”.19
the Us has been particularly vocal in calling for even closer links. a paper by ronald asmus and Bruce Jackson suggested that “anchoring israel more closely with nato and the eU, can reduce its sense of isolation.”20 while there were repeated references to threats from nuclear weapons and the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the middle east, there were no
references to the dangers posed by israel’s nuclear
arsenal, or the inherent risks of a link to nato, which
has a ‘first use’ of nuclear weapons policy. nor did
the authors question whether israeli weapons of mass
destruction would be integrated into nato systems
and command, as the UK trident nuclear arsenal is.
israel is of course keen to promote the view that
it is a natural ally of nato, a bulwark against islamic radicalism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, singling out iran as a prime ‘threat’. Viewed from an arab perspective, it is israel, not iran, which poses the major military threat in the area.21
in 2008 israeli forces held a joint exercise with the greek air force, which appeared to be testing a strike on iran.
it is not clear whether the exercise with the greek air force was done with the support and consent of nato and why nato is willing to train israeli pilots
for long distance flights. although nato countries subscribe to a counter-proliferation policy, they
have been unwilling to question the very basis of an ever closer relationship with an undeclared nuclear power which is guilty of daily violations of the geneva Convention and complete disregard for dozens of Un resolutions. israel, for its part, naturally considers that nato membership would provide a cloak of legitimacy for its illegal actions.
The global military-industrial
complex
in 2000, the Us Congressional research service ranked israel as the 10th biggest arms exporter in the world. it has major customers in China, india, turkey and europe and has been prepared to break sanctions and fuel civil wars or internal repression by selling
arms to regimes in Central and south america, Burma, rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, ethiopia and eritrea.
in india alone, israel has military transactions in
the pipeline exceeding $3 billion. defence analysts predict that israel’s exports are set to overtake those of russia, india’s traditional military trading partner.
massive Us funding has been the driving force of israel’s burgeoning industry. it has a world reputation in tanks, anti-ballistic missile systems, air-to-air missiles, combat aircraft upgrades, unmanned drones, airborne photography systems, radar systems and electronic surveillance systems. many of these involve joint ventures with european and Us arms manufacturers.22
Collaboration and interdependence in such a lucrative and politically charged field as armaments naturally strengthen israel’s ties with its customers and partners, and make the countries involved less willing to exert any pressure on israel.
FButure developments?
y introducing nuclear weapons into the middle east — despite repeated promises that it would not be the first country to do so — israel has
israel is of course keen to promote the view that
it is a natural ally of nato, a bulwark against islamic radicalism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, singling out iran as a prime ‘threat’. Viewed from an arab perspective, it is israel, not iran, which poses the major military threat in the area.21
in 2008 israeli forces held a joint exercise with the greek air force, which appeared to be testing a strike on iran.
it is not clear whether the exercise with the greek air force was done with the support and consent of nato and why nato is willing to train israeli pilots
for long distance flights. although nato countries subscribe to a counter-proliferation policy, they
have been unwilling to question the very basis of an ever closer relationship with an undeclared nuclear power which is guilty of daily violations of the geneva Convention and complete disregard for dozens of Un resolutions. israel, for its part, naturally considers that nato membership would provide a cloak of legitimacy for its illegal actions.
The global military-industrial
complex
in 2000, the Us Congressional research service ranked israel as the 10th biggest arms exporter in the world. it has major customers in China, india, turkey and europe and has been prepared to break sanctions and fuel civil wars or internal repression by selling
arms to regimes in Central and south america, Burma, rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, ethiopia and eritrea.
in india alone, israel has military transactions in
the pipeline exceeding $3 billion. defence analysts predict that israel’s exports are set to overtake those of russia, india’s traditional military trading partner.
massive Us funding has been the driving force of israel’s burgeoning industry. it has a world reputation in tanks, anti-ballistic missile systems, air-to-air missiles, combat aircraft upgrades, unmanned drones, airborne photography systems, radar systems and electronic surveillance systems. many of these involve joint ventures with european and Us arms manufacturers.22
Collaboration and interdependence in such a lucrative and politically charged field as armaments naturally strengthen israel’s ties with its customers and partners, and make the countries involved less willing to exert any pressure on israel.
FButure developments?
y introducing nuclear weapons into the middle east — despite repeated promises that it would not be the first country to do so — israel has
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destabilised an already highly volatile region. its proven
readiness to use massive force ‘pre-emptively’ against
several of its neighbours, with the cooperation and
encouragement of its western allies, must mean that
other countries in the middle east will seek to deter
future attacks by enhancing their own arsenal.
Currently israel is pressing hard for western armed intervention against iran, saying it will intervene itself if this is not forthcoming. its new defence system
may make israel feel it is impervious to retaliation if it does attack iran, with either conventional or nuclear weapons. the possible consequences of such an attack are unknowable, but potentially catastrophic.
the current situation also underlines the west’s double standards, which arouse anger and contempt in many parts of the world: on the one hand israel
is allowed to build up a huge nuclear arsenal with the support of western powers, while the mere (unsubstantiated) suspicion of iraq having wmd
was enough to subject that country to 20 years of crippling sanctions, saturation bombing and political disintegration.
The Middle East — a nuclear-free
zone?
apositive step forward was taken at the may 2010 conference reviewing the nPt. signatories of the treaty — including the Us — reiterated their call for a nuclear weapons-free zone to be established in the middle east. they urged “israel’s accession to the treaty and placement of all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive iaea safeguards”. they also endorsed the convening of a conference in helsinki in 2012,
to be attended by all middle eastern states, on “the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction”.
Potentially, this links israeli disarmament with pressure on iran not to develop wmd.
israel has declared that it will not take part, although
1 monterey institute of international studies, James martin Center for non-Proliferation studies website at http://cns.miis.edu/wmdme/ israel.htm;and Kile et al (2009) ‘world nuclear forces’, siPri yearbook 2009.
2 www.nogw.com/ilweapons.html
3 applied research institute in Jerusalem, 3 october 2008: http://tinyurl.com/2cdgb9c
4 Cohen, avner: Israel and the Bomb, 1998; The Worst-Kept Secret: Israel’s Bargain with the Bomb, 2010.
5 monterey institute of international studies, ibid.
6 Ha’aretz, 2 november 2011. see also Ben-david, a & felstead, P (2008): ‘israel launches leap in ir Bm capabilities’, Jane’s Defence Weekly, Volume 45, issue 4, 23 January 2008, and Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems, issue 50, ed. duncan lennox, (surrey: Jane’s information group, January 2009), 85–6.
7 global security website: www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/israel/ sub.htm
8 monterey institute of international studies, ibid.
9 PsC/Cnd (2005): Israel’s Weapons of Mass Destruction, Briefing Paper for a Parliamentary lobby, london.
10 www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/israel/Biological/index.html
11 Cohen, avner: ‘israel and Chemical/Biological weapons: history, deterrence, and arms Control,’ The Non-proliferation Review 8 (fall–winter 2001).
Currently israel is pressing hard for western armed intervention against iran, saying it will intervene itself if this is not forthcoming. its new defence system
may make israel feel it is impervious to retaliation if it does attack iran, with either conventional or nuclear weapons. the possible consequences of such an attack are unknowable, but potentially catastrophic.
the current situation also underlines the west’s double standards, which arouse anger and contempt in many parts of the world: on the one hand israel
is allowed to build up a huge nuclear arsenal with the support of western powers, while the mere (unsubstantiated) suspicion of iraq having wmd
was enough to subject that country to 20 years of crippling sanctions, saturation bombing and political disintegration.
The Middle East — a nuclear-free
zone?
apositive step forward was taken at the may 2010 conference reviewing the nPt. signatories of the treaty — including the Us — reiterated their call for a nuclear weapons-free zone to be established in the middle east. they urged “israel’s accession to the treaty and placement of all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive iaea safeguards”. they also endorsed the convening of a conference in helsinki in 2012,
to be attended by all middle eastern states, on “the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction”.
Potentially, this links israeli disarmament with pressure on iran not to develop wmd.
israel has declared that it will not take part, although
1 monterey institute of international studies, James martin Center for non-Proliferation studies website at http://cns.miis.edu/wmdme/ israel.htm;and Kile et al (2009) ‘world nuclear forces’, siPri yearbook 2009.
2 www.nogw.com/ilweapons.html
3 applied research institute in Jerusalem, 3 october 2008: http://tinyurl.com/2cdgb9c
4 Cohen, avner: Israel and the Bomb, 1998; The Worst-Kept Secret: Israel’s Bargain with the Bomb, 2010.
5 monterey institute of international studies, ibid.
6 Ha’aretz, 2 november 2011. see also Ben-david, a & felstead, P (2008): ‘israel launches leap in ir Bm capabilities’, Jane’s Defence Weekly, Volume 45, issue 4, 23 January 2008, and Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems, issue 50, ed. duncan lennox, (surrey: Jane’s information group, January 2009), 85–6.
7 global security website: www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/israel/ sub.htm
8 monterey institute of international studies, ibid.
9 PsC/Cnd (2005): Israel’s Weapons of Mass Destruction, Briefing Paper for a Parliamentary lobby, london.
10 www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/israel/Biological/index.html
11 Cohen, avner: ‘israel and Chemical/Biological weapons: history, deterrence, and arms Control,’ The Non-proliferation Review 8 (fall–winter 2001).
Un secretary general Ban Ki-moon has said he expects
israel to attend. it remains to be seen whether the
obama administration, that has stressed its commitment
to the nPt, will be able to persuade israel to comply.
PSC joins CND in making the
following demands:
-
the Un iaea should inspect facilities at
dimona and other relevant sites in israel for
weapons of mass destruction and report
its findings to the security Council with specific recommendations on verification and monitoring.
-
the UK government and the european Union
should put pressure on israel to achieve israeli
compliance with and ratification of the nPt,
CwC, BtwC and support negotiation of a
fmCt.
-
the UK government and the eU should
actively support and promote a wmd-free
zone in the middle east
-
israel’s development of military space
technology should be actively opposed by the
UK government and the eU.
-
an embargo must be imposed on the sale
of all UK and eU relevant military equipment
to, and purchases from israel and all
military contacts are broken off until israel’s
compliance is achieved.
-
there should be full freedom for mordechai
Vanunu.
we are grateful to the Campaign
for Nuclear Disarmament which
carried out much of the research
supporting this fact sheet.
www.cnduk.org
12 red Cross archives, 6–19 may, 1948.
13 Cook, Jonathan: Tear or poison gas? al-ahram weekly on-line 5–11 april 2001.
14 Péan, Pierre: Les Deux Bombes, 1982.
15 www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article7.html
16 gaffney, mark: Dimona, The Third Temple: The Story Behind the Vanunu Revelation, amana Books, 1989.
17 Polakow-suransky, sasha: The Unspoken Alliance: Israel’s secret alliance with apartheid South Africa, Pantheon Books 2010.
18 farr, w.d (1999): The Third Temple’s Holy of Holies: Israel’s Nuclear Weapons, the Counterproliferation Papers, future warfare series no 2, Usaf Counterproliferation Center, maxwell air force Base, alabama at www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/cpc-pubs/farr.htm 19 nato online library (2005): Speech in Israel by Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, february 24th 2005 at www.nato.int/cps/en/ natolive/opinions_21965.htm
20 asmus r.d and Jackson Bruce w.P (2005): ‘does israel belong to the eU and nato?’, Policy Review, feb/mar.
21 in a recent wide-ranging poll conducted in arab countries, 88% of respondents felt threatened by israel, 77% by the Us, only 10% by iran. see http://tinyurl.com/2emcv4l.
22 turner m (2002): Arming the Occupation: Israel and the Arms Trade, Campaign against the arms trade, london at www.caat.org. uk/resources/publications/countries/israel-1002.php
12 red Cross archives, 6–19 may, 1948.
13 Cook, Jonathan: Tear or poison gas? al-ahram weekly on-line 5–11 april 2001.
14 Péan, Pierre: Les Deux Bombes, 1982.
15 www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article7.html
16 gaffney, mark: Dimona, The Third Temple: The Story Behind the Vanunu Revelation, amana Books, 1989.
17 Polakow-suransky, sasha: The Unspoken Alliance: Israel’s secret alliance with apartheid South Africa, Pantheon Books 2010.
18 farr, w.d (1999): The Third Temple’s Holy of Holies: Israel’s Nuclear Weapons, the Counterproliferation Papers, future warfare series no 2, Usaf Counterproliferation Center, maxwell air force Base, alabama at www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/cpc-pubs/farr.htm 19 nato online library (2005): Speech in Israel by Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, february 24th 2005 at www.nato.int/cps/en/ natolive/opinions_21965.htm
20 asmus r.d and Jackson Bruce w.P (2005): ‘does israel belong to the eU and nato?’, Policy Review, feb/mar.
21 in a recent wide-ranging poll conducted in arab countries, 88% of respondents felt threatened by israel, 77% by the Us, only 10% by iran. see http://tinyurl.com/2emcv4l.
22 turner m (2002): Arming the Occupation: Israel and the Arms Trade, Campaign against the arms trade, london at www.caat.org. uk/resources/publications/countries/israel-1002.php
Palestine solidarity CamPaign faCtsheet
www.PalestineCamPaign.org
http://www.palestinecampaign.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/WMD-factsheet-2012-WEB.pdf
http://www.palestinecampaign.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/WMD-factsheet-2012-WEB.pdf
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