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ISRAEL DISCLOSES ITS NUCLEAR OPTION
MENL ^ | 11/03/2001 | MENL

Posted on 11/03/2001 3:21:38 AM PST by CommiesOut

ISRAEL DISCLOSES ITS NUCLEAR OPTION

TEL AVIV [MENL] -- For the first time, Israel has allowed an open discussion of its nuclear program.

The discussion is contained in a new documentary on Israel's nuclear capability. It is the first time the government has allowed the production and airing of such a program.

In contrast to previous documentaries on the subject produced abroad, Israeli leaders agreed to be interviewed. Foreign Minister Shimon Peres reviewed the history of Israel's nuclear program and its cooperation with France in the 1950s and 1960s.

Neither Peres nor any other Israeli official acknowledges that the Jewish state has nuclear weapons. Previous assessments have asserted that Israel has up to 200 nuclear warheads.

The documentary, "A Bomb in the Basement ­ Israel’s Nuclear Option," was produced in France, Israel and the United States and quotes former U.S. officials recalling Washington's opposition to Israel's nuclear program. The documentary will be aired in Israel on Sunday.

"We thought it was a mistake on Israel’s part to develop nuclear weapons," Paul Warnke, former chief U.S. arms control negotiator, said.

The screening of the documentary comes amid Israel's quiet debate on increasing its nuclear deterrence in face of Iran's development of atomic weapons. Former Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has privately urged a change in Israel's policy of nuclear ambiguity once Iran is assessed at having a nuclear weapon, expected as early as 2004.

France supplied most of the components and technology for Israel's nuclear program. The French secretly constructed the nuclear reactor in Dimona, which remains off-limits to international inspection. The project was supervised by French Atomic Energy Commission director Francois Perrin.

"Francois Perrin called [then-French Prime Minister] Guy Mollet the day after my visit and told him that Israel should be supplied with a nuclear bomb," former French defense official Abel Thomas said. "That's how it was."

The documentary quotes what it termed foreign sources as saying that Israel declared a nuclear alert three times in its history. The sources said that during the 1970s, Israel built three to five atom bombs annually and today has an arsenal of at least 200 nuclear weapons.

The film quotes military analyst and commentaror Ze’ev Schiff as saying that he was the only journalist allowed to tour the Dimona nuclear facility.



TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
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To: razorbak
bump to the top!!
181 posted on 11/12/2001 11:18:05 AM PST by timestax
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To: CommiesOut
There has been a rumor among the Intell. Services for decades that Israel has at least 2 nukes targeted in on the Aswan Dam. This was supposed to have caused Egypt to back off from the 'Crush Israel' position. Anyway the point is Israel has nukes. They will use them if their backs are to the wall.
182 posted on 11/12/2001 11:27:37 AM PST by vladog
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To: CommiesOut
Israel has 200 nukes?

Where do they hide them all?

Under Sharon's bed?

They wouldn't exaggerate now, would they?

I wonder if they are contemplating a "nuclear Masada" ?

Would solve a lot of problems wouldn't it?

183 posted on 11/12/2001 12:11:23 PM PST by muleboy
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To: vladog
bump to the top for the newbies coming on board
184 posted on 11/12/2001 8:17:55 PM PST by timestax
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To: hove
bump to the top!!
185 posted on 11/13/2001 6:12:47 PM PST by timestax
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To: Mr. Snrub
The Romans did not make up the name Palestine. The name is already mentioned by Herodotus in the 5th century B.C., hundreds of years before the Romans conquered that area, and it doesn't appear that Herodotus made up the name--it was already in use.

I don't know when the Philistines lose their separate identity but I am not aware of any passage in the Bible where the Israelites wipe them out. In Zephaniah 2.5 there is a reference to "Canaan, the land of the Philistines."

186 posted on 11/13/2001 7:00:51 PM PST by Verginius Rufus
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To: Verginius Rufus
Remember the Amalekites!
187 posted on 11/16/2001 1:06:31 PM PST by timestax
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To: timestax
Saul lost his job for not killing the king of the Amalekites (I Samuel 15).

There is a reference to Philistines in Genesis 21.32, in the time of Abraham, which is supposed to be before the Philistines settled in Palestine. In the Septuagint Greek version of the Bible, they are there called Phylistiim, but in many passages where the English translations have "Philistines" the Septuagint has "allophyloi" (foreigners).

Ezekiel 25.15-17 and Zechariah 9.5-7 predict destruction for the Philistines, which suggests there were still Philistines in the 6th century B.C. Gosta Ahlstrom, The History of Ancient Palestine, page 825, says the city of Ashkelon was Phoenician in the Persian period; Gaza was not Phoenician but "seems to have been part of the Arab economic sphere." Whether the people living in the old Philistine cities considered themselves Philistines is one thing; the Biblical authors may have continued to call them Philistines for historical reasons anyway.

188 posted on 11/16/2001 1:10:59 PM PST by Verginius Rufus
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To: Verginius Rufus
I believe it's these same Amalekites that are thorn in the side of Isreal today. The so called "Palistinians". Right?!
189 posted on 11/16/2001 1:11:23 PM PST by timestax
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To: timestax
...a thorn in the side of Israel...
190 posted on 11/16/2001 1:11:42 PM PST by timestax
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To: CommiesOut
bttt
191 posted on 11/16/2001 1:14:40 PM PST by timestax
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Comment #192 Removed by Moderator

To: muleboy
bump for the newbies
193 posted on 11/16/2001 1:16:58 PM PST by timestax
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To: Patria One
Genesis 32 was written in 1948?

I don't think so. I'll see your Shakepeare and Chaucer and raise you two millenia.

194 posted on 11/16/2001 1:17:07 PM PST by Right Wing Professor
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To: Mr. Snrub
I think it's an irrelvant discussion; the only sure way to trace where contemporary Palestinians come from is gene analysis. I think I read recently they're closer to the Jews than any other living group, and many of them may well be remnant Jews who were forcibly converted to islam

But in any case, this is a mention of Palestine that predates the Roman conquest.

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/GreekScience/hdtbk2.html

195 posted on 11/16/2001 1:17:08 PM PST by Right Wing Professor
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To: Right Wing Professor
LOL.. My post was badly writen_ Herodotus sure does predate Shakespeare or Chaucer! Well done.
196 posted on 11/16/2001 1:17:18 PM PST by Patria One
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To: Patria One
REMEMBER the Amalekites--and remember what Saul failed to do.
197 posted on 11/16/2001 1:19:11 PM PST by timestax
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To: timestax
Of ALL the tribes in the region over the generations, remember who wrote the story.
198 posted on 11/16/2001 1:23:04 PM PST by Patria One
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To: Patria One
So are you going to argue with GOD for his choice of people to write history. You are just in denial that GOD can, and did had a favorite group of people that he has chosen for great and miraclulous events.

Can't a pottery worker/artist have a favorite vase, or work of art? Are you going to argue with GOD about HIS decision making. Well go to it!!

199 posted on 11/16/2001 1:23:58 PM PST by timestax
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To: vladog
bump
200 posted on 11/16/2001 1:23:59 PM PST by timestax
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