Nuclear Conference Criticizes Israeli Nukes

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

By GEORGE JAHN (AP) – 2 hours ago

VIENNA — Overriding Western objections, a 150-nation nuclear conference on Friday passed a resolution directly criticizing Israel and its atomic program for the first time in 18 years. Iran hailed the vote as a "glorious moment."

The result was a setback not only for Israel but also for the U.S. and other backers of the Jewish state, which had lobbied for 18 years of past practice — debate on the issue without a vote. It also reflected building tensions between Israel and its backers and Islamic nations, backed by developing countries.

Of delegations present at the International Atomic Energy Agency meeting Friday, 49 voted for the resolution. Forty-five were against and 16 abstained from endorsing or rejecting he document, which "expresses concern about the Israeli nuclear capabilities," and links it to "concern about the threat posed by the proliferation of nuclear weapons for the security and stability of the Middle East."

The result once again exposed the deep North-South divide gripping IAEA meetings.

The United States and its allies consider Iran the greatest proliferation threat, fearing that Tehran is trying to achieve the capacity to make nuclear weapons despite its assertion that it is only building a civilian program to generate power. They also say Syria — which, like Iran is under IAEA investigation — ran a clandestine nuclear program, at least until Israeli warplanes destroyed what they describe as a nearly finished plutonium-producing reactor two years ago.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hnEz0m45RpoqPw1eSBA9sQLziV8QD9APP8BG0

[Soylent Brice]

1. .

:popcorn:

[Pavulon]

2. What nukes?

i do not recall any testing of a device. Any mention of pakistani or indian nukes?

does israel have a guy named kahn running around giving away the special sauce?

[mbperrin]

4. A primer.

http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/israel/nuke/

[Pavulon]

5. I know, this is like criticizing us advanced satellites

sure people know we have them and probably not just the KH types but we dont acknowledge, nor does israel.

[funnymanpants]

15. But Israel has them

Whether or not Israel acknowledges having them has no bearing on the fact that they actually have them.

[Pavulon]

19. You have no proof,

sure we have newer better stuff than the KH-11, but as far the US is concerned, we dont have that technology. A strong gut feeling is not really proof.

[Wizard777]

8. I think something is getting lost in the translation on Israels "Textile Program".

What is getting lost in that translation is Israels nuclear weapons program.

[HereSince1628]

9. I think South Africa did that for them.

From wikipedia (granting potentail weakness of Wiki entries)

David Albright and Chris McGreal have claimed that South African projects to develop nuclear weapons during the 1970s and 1980s were undertaken with some cooperation from Israel.<8><9><10> The United Nations Security Council Resolution 418 of 4 November 1977 introduced a mandatory arms embargo against South Africa, also requiring all states to refrain from "any co-operation with South Africa in the manufacture and development of nuclear weapons".<11>From Wikipedia...And I acknowledge it isn't always correct) David Albright and Chris McGreal have claimed that South African projects to develop nuclear weapons during the 1970s and 1980s were undertaken with some cooperation from Israel.<8><9><10> The United Nations Security Council Resolution 418 of 4 November 1977 introduced a mandatory arms embargo against South Africa, also requiring all states to refrain from "any co-operation with South Africa in the manufacture and development of nuclear weapons".<11>

[Tempest]

10. No guy named "Kahn"

But there was a guy named Mordechai Vanunu, an Israeli who spent almost two decades in prison and was tortured for revealing Israel's nuclear program and warheads.

[Pavulon]

12. To other countries so they could make weapons like kahn did?

or to the media. If you ever hold a TS clearance in the US and disclose information you can be charged with a death penalty crime.

edit:grammar

[funnymanpants]

16. To the media

He revealed his info to the media. He didn't divulge info that would help other countries develop them. Since Israel illegally has nuclear weapons, they weren't happy with this and imprisoned him.

[Pavulon]

20. Yep, i signed the papers

they pretty much say if you tell anyone about this we will put you in prison for 10 years. They also say if you can get the death penalty for revealing information. This is the US form.

How are the weapons illegal, unlike Iran , Israel did not sign the NPT and has not tested weapons. Nor have they passed information, look our new good buddies pakistan.

[bemildred]

11. THE THIRD TEMPLE'S HOLY OF HOLIES: ISRAEL'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Warner D. Farr, LTC, U.S. Army

The Counterproliferation Papers

Future Warfare Series No. 2

USAF Counterproliferation Center

Air War College

Air University

Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama

September 1999

Abstract

This paper is a history of the Israeli nuclear weapons program drawn from a review of unclassified sources. Israel began its search for nuclear weapons at the inception of the state in 1948. As payment for Israeli participation in the Suez Crisis of 1956, France provided nuclear expertise and constructed a reactor complex for Israel at Dimona capable of large-scale plutonium production and reprocessing. The United States discovered the facility by 1958 and it was a subject of continual discussions between American presidents and Israeli prime ministers. Israel used delay and deception to at first keep the United States at bay, and later used the nuclear option as a bargaining chip for a consistent American conventional arms supply. After French disengagement in the early 1960s, Israel progressed on its own, including through several covert operations, to project completion. Before the 1967 Six-Day War, they felt their nuclear facility threatened and reportedly assembled several nuclear devices. By the 1973 Yom Kippur War Israel had a number of sophisticated nuclear bombs, deployed them, and considered using them. The Arabs may have limited their war aims because of their knowledge of the Israeli nuclear weapons. Israel has most probably conducted several nuclear bomb tests. They have continued to modernize and vertically proliferate and are now one of the world's larger nuclear powers. Using “bomb in the basement” nuclear opacity, Israel has been able to use its arsenal as a deterrent to the Arab world while not technically violating American nonproliferation requirements.

http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/israel/nuke/farr.htm

[Pavulon]

13. Sounds reasonable when surrounded with people who have thrice

tried to wipe you out. Until they confirm weapons there is really nothing to discuss since they are not NPT signatories.

[bemildred]

14. I think the idea is to get them to become NPT signatories.

Like Iran is for example. It really weakens the case against Iran that Israel is being so disingenous about its own nuclear weapons activities.

[closeupready]

17. Okay, but if that is the standard, then you've just given Iran a rationale for their own program.

You either can have them in response to hostility from neighbors, or you can't. Israel certainly antagonizes other states in the region. Therefore, using the same rationale, Iran is justified in seeking them.

So you see how Israel's justification is a slippery slope?

[Pavulon]

18. Iran signed the NTP, they can always undo that.

but they can't do both. Israel , if they have the bomb, has not used it. Nor have they discussed how long their neighbors will be on the map, before they are wiped off.

[mbperrin]

3. Good Lord! Recognition of reality! What could this lead to? Recognition of China?

Wait, Nixon did that. End the Cuban embargo? The horror! The Horror! THE HORROR!

[Wizard777]

6. It's about time! Nuclear policy must be uniform.

[Pavulon]

7. Policy is based on NPT

some countries did not sign that agreement, others did.

[proteus_lives]

21. If they have them, they need them.

I'd imagine those hypothetical nukes keep the arab states from launching another general war against Israel.