Most World Leaders Assess Israel Possesses Nuclear Capabilities

US Secretary of State Dodges Question on Israel’s Nuclear Programme

At a congressional hearing on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was questioned by Democratic lawmaker Congressman Joaquin Castro about Washington’s position on Israel’s nuclear programme. The exchange highlighted the decades-long taboo in US politics regarding public discussion of Israel’s nuclear capabilities.

Rubio stated that “most of the world assesses” that Israel possesses nuclear weapons, but refused to provide a clear answer on the matter. He suggested that the issue should be discussed in a private setting, rather than publicly. Castro pressed on, emphasizing the importance of knowing Israel’s red lines for using nuclear weapons, particularly given the US’s involvement in a joint war with Israel against Iran.

Rubio acknowledged that refraining from discussing Israel’s nuclear weapons is a “feature” of US foreign policy. However, he offered to answer the question in a classified format. Castro noted that the question was fair and that the administration should provide oversight body with information needed for decision-making.

The issue of Israel’s nuclear programme has been a topic of controversy, with leading rights groups and UN investigators accusing Israel of carrying out a genocide in Gaza. Despite this, Israel receives billions of dollars in military aid from Washington annually. The country is not a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

In recent years, some Israeli officials have suggested deploying nuclear weapons, including Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, who stated that dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza was “an option”. US Congressman Randy Fine has also urged Israel to use nuclear weapons against Palestinians. In May, Castro penned a letter to the US Department of State signed by 30 lawmakers seeking clarifications about Israel’s nuclear programme and the US policy of not discussing it.

Source: Al Jazeera