Israel’s UN envoy has defended Israel’s nuclear weapons, asserting that the country is justified in possessing them, unlike Iran.
Speaking at the United Nations headquarters in New York on March 25, the Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon responded to a reporter’s question about why Israel should be allowed nuclear weapons while other Middle Eastern countries, including Iran, should not.
The reporter asked why Israel has the right to acquire nuclear weapons while no other Middle Eastern country does, noting that everyone recognizes Israel as a nuclear power. He also referred to Fa’anunu, who fled Israel to London, gave an important interview with the Times of London, and was later kidnapped back to Israel and sentenced to 18 years in prison.
“Why does Israel have the right to acquire nuclear weapons, but no other Middle Eastern country has the same right?” he asked.
Israel’s UN Ambassador Justifies Its Nuclear Weapons Possession
The Israel’s UN Ambassador defended the country’s right to maintain nuclear weapons, presenting Israel as a stabilising force in the Middle East.
He described Israel as a stabilising force in the Middle East, attributing regional instability to Iran, characterising its actions as a source of chaos and security threats.
The Ambassador noted that Israel’s nuclear capability is justified by national security concerns, particularly amid tensions with Iran.
He emphasised that Israel’s security context, including worries over Iran’s nuclear programme, differentiates its position from other countries in the region.
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“One should ask which nation brings stability to the region and which creates chaos. Israel is a stabilizing force there. We want peace. We have signed peace treaties, promoted peace, and prayed for peace. In contrast, the Iranian regime acts differently. They attacked 13 countries in one month. Israel has existed for 77 years and has never been at war with 13 countries at once. Today, Iran is a source of instability, while Israel is a source of peace and stability,” he said.
History Of Israeli Nuclear Weapons Possession
Israel began its nuclear program shortly after its founding in 1948, driven by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion’s determination to ensure national survival post-Holocaust, as detailed in declassified U.S. intelligence reports from the Atomic Heritage Foundation.
The Israel Atomic Energy Commission was established in 1952, with initial uranium surveys in the Negev desert identifying resources for plutonium production.
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Construction of the Dimona reactor near Beersheba started in 1958 with French assistance, and by 1960, a U.S. Joint Atomic Energy Intelligence Committee report confirmed the site included a plutonium reprocessing facility for weapons purposes, according to the National Security Archive.
Israel is estimated to have assembled its first nuclear device by 1967, amid the Six-Day War, though exact dates remain unclear due to official ambiguity.
Israel maintains a policy of “nuclear opacity,” neither confirming nor denying possession, with estimates of 80-400 warheads today, as reported by the New York Times, citing historical records and U.S. assessments.
The program’s existence gained public attention in 1986 when technician Mordechai Vanunu revealed details to the Sunday Times, claiming Israel had 100-200 weapons, including thermonuclear capabilities.
