Israel’s nuclear option revisited

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Israel began developing its nuclear option in the early 1950s because of its fear of the Arab world's hostile intentions. The country's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, believed that the Arab world, despite its internal rifts, was united on one subject: the destruction of Israel as an independent Jewish state. Notwithstanding Israel's impressive victory in the 1948 war, Ben-Gurion was convinced that the Arabs were capable of realizing this goal. He regarded the nuclear option as the only means that could deter them from endangering Israel's survival. At a certain stage in the mid-1960s, Israel's nuclear option became a factor with far-reaching strategic implications, and Israel adopted a policy of ambiguity in this regard. Despite the dramatic changes in the balance of power between Israel and the Arab world and Israel's relations with the Great Powers, this policy still seems relevant and best suited to Israel's national interests.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)267-277
Number of pages11
JournalInternational Journal of Phytoremediation
Volume21
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2005

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Pollution
  • Plant Science

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