This statement:
" ... that Israel was a nuclear power, it had been common knowledge in the defense and intelligence fields since the early 1970s."What is a "nuclear power?" Then, and now, the definition does not require weapons inventories. "Atoms for Peace" was a prevailing wish of the western countries, so that nations without fuel-burning power-generation might benefit with nuclear power-generation. Plans for various countries building nuclear plants, included Israel; no secret.
The "defense field" includes, in the West, 10's of thousands of of engineers, civilians, pretty much making the "common knowledge" that of especially the American public; had they bothered to take as much note, then, as the author argues now.
The Lockheed "Black Bird" "Spy Plane," SR-71 and its cousins, made out by the "news media" to be a phenomenon in the 1980's and 1990's, was all over a few newspapers back in 1964 when it broke the speed record across country; almost nobody noticed, then.
This statement:
"That information was available to anyone with a degree in nuclear physics."Such information does not require a "degree in nuclear physics;" the information is available to many people who will make the effort to investigate at their local libraries.
Indeed, university libraries are full of surprises. For example, the logs of the C.I.A. are kept nearby, here; in the 1980's I could study the whereabouts --- on an hourly basis --- of top Soviet officials of the C.C.C.P.
This statement:
" ... How It Works ... "Descibes enough details, so as to give weight to Israel as a developer for Israel's unique purposes, lending the weapon to therefore be uniquely Israeli; but this description offers no more of the "How" than can be found in a number of other countries' efforts at weapons development, as well as tactical deployment.
On on that last point of "tactical deployment," the story's sounds good and may be, but there are more clever uses to remain un-published should a person care to improve the odds of their never being required in combat.
I hope it is closer to being true for if it is then Isreal has the capacity to defend itself.For more background see this link.