THE world spends billions each year to stop the spread of nuclear weapons.
Treaties are signed, sanctions are imposed and inspectors are sent across the globe. Yet, one country—Israel—manages to escape all this scrutiny. Why does the world turn a blind eye?
Israel is widely believed to have nuclear weapons, yet it has never officially confirmed it. While countries like Iran and North Korea face global pressure and punishment, Israel enjoys silence and protection, especially from the United States and its Western allies. This double standard undermines the credibility of global efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation and diminishes hopes for lasting peace in the Middle East.
Israel’s nuclear program began in the 1950s, with help from France and the US. The Dimona nuclear reactor in the Negev desert became the heart of its secret weapons project. By the late 1960s, experts believed Israel had already built nuclear bombs. The first public confirmation came in 1986, when Mordechai Vanunu, a technician at Dimona, exposed details of Israel’s nuclear program to the British media. He was later kidnapped by Mossad, tried secretly and jailed for 18 years.
Today, experts estimate Israel has between 80 and 200 nuclear warheads. These weapons can be launched by aircraft, missiles or submarines. Some reports suggest Israel may even be developing advanced thermonuclear bombs. Yet, unlike Iran, Israel’s program is never inspected or questioned.
Israel is not a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which aims to control nuclear arms. By staying outside the NPT, Israel avoids any obligation to disarm. Meanwhile, Iran, which signed the treaty and allows inspections, faces sanctions and now the unlawful military interventions.
This double standard has its roots in a 1969 agreement between US President Nixon and Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, where the US agreed to tolerate Israel’s arsenal as long as it stayed quiet. This secret understanding has lasted for decades.
Israeli allies argue that Israel needs nuclear weapons because it is surrounded by hostile neighbours. But if insecurity justifies nuclear weapons, why are countries like Iran or Egypt not allowed the same? Ignoring Israel’s weapons sets a dangerous example. It could push countries in the region to start their own nuclear programs, risking a new arms race in a tense region.
To protect peace and fairness, the world must stop this silence. Israel should admit its nuclear capabilities and join discussions on arms control. Transparency is a necessary first step toward a safer future. If global powers truly want nuclear disarmament, they must apply the same rules to everyone. Otherwise, nuclear hypocrisy will continue threatening peace.
—The writer is a political and defence analyst based in Bangladesh.
