Israeli Dinoma

Since the beginning of its founding, in 1948, one of their top priorities as a group of people is getting their hands on the atomic bomb. While the first nuclear reaction was done by the Germans, and it was perfected into a bomb during the Manhattan project in America Israel, felt like that technology should be theirs for the taking. The most famous leak was that of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, when a Jewish couple released American atomic secret to the Soviets, in the late 40’s.

Besides the Soviets another country that was working on developing their own nuclear program was France. However, France was more than willing to work side by side with Israel so they could develop their own nuclear program. In 1957 Israel finish their first reactor. When Charles de Gaulle became president of France, he tried to break off cooperation between Israel and France.

After the reactor was built, with the help of the French, the Israeli needed fissionable material to make weapons. At first, they had geological surveys of Israel to see where they could mine material from Palestine, but that wasn’t enough. After the falling out with the French the Israeli needed a new supply of Uranium oxide, also known as yellow cake.

After the French withdrew support to help Israel run their nuclear program. England and Norway picked up the slack. An Israeli front was set up to look like a Norwegian company known as “Noratom.” Between 1959 and 1966, they sold Israel fissile material known uranium-235, Lithium-6 for building fission bombs and fuel hydrogen bombs, 20 tons of heavy water, processed plutonium, and other reprocessing chemicals needed to build nuclear bombs.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/4789832.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/4743493.stm

But Britain’s help wasn’t enough. Israel wanted it’s own raw material, and lots of it. With ties in Argentina, Argentina became Israel’s one of Israel new supplier of yellow cake Uranium. America tried to intervene and stop the sale of uranium oxide, in 1964, but it was of now use. Between 1963 and 1966, Argentina sold Israel 90 tons of uranium oxide.

https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/nukevault/ebb432/

By 1967, at the end of the Six-Day War, Israel had their first two bombs built. With many more weapons and devices being tested and built later, even though Israel would practice the policy of nuclear ambiguity, meaning they never claimed that they have or not have them. With out them having to sign any agreement on nuclear weapon use, Israel stands out compared to all the other nuclear powers, who have agreed to treaties, like all the other nuclear powers did. Not only would Israel not sign any treaties, they also would develop some of the most dangerous nuclear policies of any country.

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