Tel Aviv (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The State of Israel is reported to have "100 to 300 'nuclear warheads and has a power similar to that of Britain. Tel Aviv was the sixth nation to acquire nuclear weapons already in the 50s. This according to experts of Jane's Defense Weekly, which deals with military information.
Israel’s nuclear arm-power always been surrounded by the greatest secrecy. Yesterday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled his trip to Washington for fear of having to answer questions related to nuclear weapons possessed by Israel and because his state is one of the few that has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Analysts at Jane's believe that Tel Aviv has between 100 and 300 nuclear warheads, with a capacity that is more or less similar to that of Britain.
Israel is the only nuclear power in the Middle East. Its nuclear program has gradually developed with the help of France, and it is centred at the Dimona reactor in southern Negev. In 1986 a technician from the Dimona plant, Mordechai Vanunu, revealed details to the world about his country's nuclear program. Because of this he was arrested for 18 years and still suffers limitations on his freedom.
According to the International Institute of Strategic Studies, based in London, Israel's strategic strength is based on short-range ground missiles Jericho 1, and intermediate range Jericho 2 missiles. According to Jane's, the scope of Jericho 1 has increased from 1500 K at 4500 km. Since 2005, Israel also has the Jericho 3 long-range missile (7800 km).
According to several analysts, Israel’s nuclear weapons are not assembled. But they can be prepared and made functional in a matter of days.