ISRAEL DISCLOSES ITS NUCLEAR OPTION

MENL ^ | 11/03/2001 | MENL

[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.

[Abn1508]

I'd prefer a less messy option, but if you really think that's the only way a constitutional democracy can survive surrounded by terroristic despotisms, I'm there with you.

[Patria One]

Planes leave here every hour as well.

I just hope that educated Americans were less prone to propaganda efforts than the poor and ignorant Afghanis that OBL is jerking around.

[winslow]

Israel would be a lot more sucessful economically if they didn't have to spend so much of their budget (approx 20%)on defence and security.

[Patria One]

Of course, but the israelis just bulldozed a Canadian financed water management project at Rafah in the Gaza Strip and cut that water source for the Palestians there in the occupied territory. Happened today.

[Republic of Texas]

The only propaganda I have fallen victim to, is what happened on 9/11. Before that I believed Islam was a peaceful sister religion to Christianity, and that the problems in the M.E. were land problems.

I will never again believe that Islam is peaceful. It is a demon religion that must be destroyed. Why, because if we don't, IT will destroy us.

And yes, I know Muslims are instructed to lie to infidels, to lure us into a false sense of security until you become strong enough to conquer us, of course.

[Jack Barbara]

I'm against the carrying of guns by irresponsible small children or the criminally insane.

How do you feel about the carrying of guns by irresponsible tall children or the legally insane?

[Republic of Texas]

Good for the Israelis. Hope they do another one tommorrow. Keep me posted, won't you?

[Patria One]

"I know Muslims are instructed to lie to infidels,"

Oh yeah and the same thing has ben said about the Jews. It was crummy then and its crummy now, but that's how propaganda works.

[hove]

"THE THING WRONG WITH THE STATEMENT MADE BY THIS ANTI-SEMITE, TERRORIST LOVER, IS THAT THE JEWS DO NOT OCCUPY THE LAND OF ISRAEL, BUT IT BELONGS TO THEM; NOT TO THE ARABS.

You mean like America belongs to Native American Indians?

[winslow]

I've been searching news sites for that story and haven't found it yet. Can you please post a link?

[Republic of Texas]

It's in the Koran, I think it's called taquiya, or something similar. Again, when you deny it, or equate it with something else from history, you are PRACTICING it, and now that you've made us aware, (9/11, Palistinian women celebrating in the streets in GAZA), we don't buy your BS anymore. Sorry, too late.

Don't like Gaza? Try Jordan. The Original Palistinian State.

[Republic of Texas]

We gave them their "Gaza strips", they're called Reservations. Why don't you go live on one?

[aruanan]

You mean like America belongs to Native American Indians?

Not quite. You're guilty of reifying here. There is no such group as Native American Indians. That's just a unitary term applied to a large number of different populations of different languages, religions, histories, and even distinct genetic differences which all happened to be occupying different geographical areas, fighting each other, making alliances, moving around, moving in, displacing other groups. And, no, "America" doesn't belong to them except to the extent that they are born into America as American citizens.

[Patria One]

Israel destroys tunnel on Egypt's borders Foreign Affairs Source: United Press International Published: Nov 03, 2001 Author: SAUD ABU RAMADAN Posted on 11/3/01 10:45 AM Pacific by grimalkin

[Republic of Texas]

" Patria One, member since October 20th, 2001 "

BTW, welcome. I gotta run. Keep me posted on those Israeli "atrocities". Gives me a warm feeling just reading about them.

[Republic of Texas]

You don't remember the Great Native American Republic? Me neither.

[Patria One]

The pictures you are speaking of were taken at the end of the Gulf war.

[vrwc54]

" Patria One, member since October 20th, 2001 "

and before that:

(Graphic designed by Thinkin' Gal and Inyokern)

Astonished	J Harris	Lematha	sawgrass
Passin Pilgrim	LeeAnn6	tynker	Kudzu Flat
Samaritan	Patria One	beecharmer	TBA

[madrussian]

You think your "UAIFs" have the bomb, but do they have a delivery system? Paranoia is such a wonderful condition.

I meant Israel's nuclear weapons, read #15. UAIF's only voiced an opinion that Israel would be justified to nuke just about any country, not limited to their attackers, if they were to go down, and that that is a valid blackmail weapon to use to make America and Europe not to "abandon" their "ally".

[Patria One]

They did the same thing in Ramallah in March of this year. Cut water and electricity to 70,000 people.