US Lawmakers Seek Transparency on Israels Nuclear Capabilities

US Lawmakers Urge Transparency on Israel’s Nuclear Capabilities

A group of Democratic lawmakers in the US Congress have sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, requesting that the State Department provide more information on Israel’s nuclear capabilities. The lawmakers cited the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran as a reason for increased transparency.

According to the Washington, DC-based Nuclear Threat Initiative, Israel has maintained a policy of “nuclear opacity” since the 1960s, never officially confirming its possession of nuclear weapons or arsenal. Despite this, several former US officials and unclassified intelligence documents have shed light on Israel’s alleged nuclear programme.

The lawmakers’ letter, signed by 30 members of Congress, emphasizes the need for clarity on Israel’s nuclear capabilities in order to inform US policy in the Middle East. They specifically asked Secretary Rubio for information on Israel’s warheads, launchers, and enrichment capabilities, as well as its nuclear doctrine and red lines.

The letter notes that the public record supports the conclusion that Israel possesses nuclear weapons, citing a 1974 US Special National Intelligence Estimate and statements by US and Israeli officials. The lawmakers also pointed to several instances where Israel has been identified as possessing nuclear capabilities, including a 2006 statement by former defense secretary nominee Robert Gates.

The letter concludes by stating that a policy of official ambiguity on Israel’s nuclear capabilities makes coherent nonproliferation policy in the Middle East impossible. The lawmakers are seeking clear information from the administration to inform their understanding of the situation and to ensure that US policy is well-informed.

Source: Al Jazeera