January 9, 2015 | Quoted by Sarah Westwood - The Washington Examiner

Legal Battle to Publish Unclassified DOD Report on Israeli Nukes Nears End


Jonathan Schanzer, vice president for research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, called the likely existence of Israeli nuclear weapons an “open secret” in the international community.

Even so, Israel has long held that it will not be the first country to introduce nuclear weapons into the Middle East. It has never disclosed its alleged arsenal, nor has the U.S. ever formally acknowledged its existence.

Schanzer said the specter of Israeli nuclear weapons has played a role in negotiations with Iran over its suspected stockpile.

“The reason this would be seen as controversial is you have this real concerted push for Iran to come clean on its nuclear program and to relinquish its infrastructure,” he said.

Proponents of the Iranian nuclear program have argued that if Israel is not pressed to disclose its arsenal, Iran should not be facing sanctions, Schanzer said.

He cited “vast” differences between the Israeli and Iranian governments as a reason why the U.S. has taken separate approaches to the two alleged nuclear systems.

“You have an Iranian regime that would use its potential nuclear program to threaten multiple regimes around the Middle East,” Schanzer said.

He noted the report was unlikely to change the Pentagon’s commitment to maintaining ambiguity in regards to Israel’s nuclear capabilities if it was published.

Still, Schanzer said he “saw no reason” the government would authorize its release.

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Issues:

Israel