Israel Sees No Pressure On Nuclear Ambiguity Policy

[Purveyor]

HERZLIYA, Israel (Reuters) - Israel does not expect to come under pressure to scrap the secrecy around its nuclear capabilities as the United States reviews strategies towards Iran's atomic ambitions, an Israeli official said on Wednesday.

Israel is widely assumed to have the Middle East's only atomic arsenal, but neither confirms nor denies this under an "ambiguity" policy billed as deterring foes while avoiding the sort of public provocations that can spur arms races.

Yet Western concern over Iran's uranium enrichment has led some analysts to suggest Israel could be asked by its U.S. ally to submit its own nuclear facilities to inspection as part of a drive to guarantee a region free of weapons of mass destruction.

Asked at a security conference whether he expected such a proposal from the new administration of President Barack Obama, who expressed readiness to talk directly to Iran, Israeli Atomic Energy Commission deputy director-general David Danieli said:

"Israel has always had a responsible and wise nuclear policy, and this was recognised as such by others in the international community, and there is no reason to doubt that it will continue to be so in the future."

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REUTERS: http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKTRE5135SW20090204

[Hydra]

1. Ah, yeah

"You can trust us with these volatile and stupid weapons, but if anyone else has them, they are part of an axis of evil!!!"

[Ian David]

2. My money still says Israel only has Davidka Missiles. n/t