As Israel wages its campaign against Iran’s nuclear facilities, scrutiny is growing over its own undeclared nuclear arsenal—widely believed to include dozens of warheads and advanced delivery systems, yet shielded from international oversight due to Israel’s refusal to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

A Nuclear Power in the Shadows

Israel maintains a policy of “nuclear opacity,” never officially confirming nor denying its possession of nuclear weapons. But according to the Nuclear Threat Initiative, Israel is believed to hold approximately 90 warheads, with enough plutonium stockpiled for nearly 200 additional weapons. It reportedly holds between 750 and 1,100 kilograms of plutonium.

These weapons are believed to be deployable by land, air, and sea—including through Jericho ballistic missiles, F-15 and F-35 aircraft, and German-made Dolphin-class submarines capable of firing nuclear-armed cruise missiles.

Origins in Covert Franco-Israeli Collaboration

Israel’s nuclear program dates to the 1950s, when Prime Minister David Ben Gurion covertly launched the Dimona project with significant French assistance. France helped build the reactor and provided reprocessing capabilities, motivated by shared strategic interests against Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser.

The U.S., initially unaware of Dimona’s true purpose, was repeatedly misled by Israeli officials. Declassified documents and whistleblower revelations later showed that underground plutonium facilities had been hidden from American inspectors during site visits from 1961 to 1969.

From Nixon to Netanyahu: Strategic Ambiguity

By the end of the 1960s, Washington understood Israel’s nuclear intentions. A quiet understanding—known as the 1969 Nixon-Meir deal—allowed Israel to keep its arsenal secret as long as it remained undeclared. Since then, successive U.S. administrations have upheld the taboo, even threatening sanctions against officials who publicly acknowledge it.

Israel’s nuclear doctrine is believed to center on the “Samson Option”—a last-resort response to existential threats. Former officials suggest the arsenal would only be used in scenarios where Israel’s survival is at stake.

Leaks, Denials, and the Dimona Whistleblower

Public awareness of Israel’s arsenal surged in 1986, when technician Mordechai Vanunu revealed its nuclear capabilities to the Sunday Times, including photos and testimony about Dimona’s hidden six-floor underground complex. Vanunu was later abducted by Mossad, convicted of espionage, and spent 18 years in prison—much of it in solitary confinement.

i minister in 2023 drew international criticism for suggesting a nuclear strike on Gaza, later claiming the remark was metaphorical.