Netanyahu refuses to confirm the existance of nuclear weapons in Israel

NETANYAHU SLAMS IRAN FOR 'SECRET NUKE PROGRAM,' WON'T SAY WHETHER ISRAEL DEVELOPED NUKES IN SECRET

HalTurner  

2 May, 2018

On CNN Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Iran for allegedly working to develop nuclear bombs in secret, but refused to say whether Israel did the same (in violation of US non-proliferation law).

From The Daily Caller:

“A ‘yes-no’ question for you,” [CNN’s Chris Cuomo] said. “You know where I’m going with this. Does Israel have nuclear capabilities and nuclear weapons, yes or no?”

“We’ve always said that we won’t be the first to introduce it, so we haven’t introduced it,” Netanyahu replied.

“That’s not an answer to the question. Do you have them or do you not?” Cuomo asked.

“It’s as good an answer as you’re going to get,” Netanyahu said. “Iran said they don’t have this nuclear weapons program and Iran calls daily for the annihilation of my country. We don’t do that.”

Cuomo admitted Iran has a reputation for being dishonest but continued to press the prime minister about his country’s nuclear program.

“If disclosure matters so much, what message does it send when you won’t confirm something that is widely believed by the entire international community?” Cuomo asked. “How does that inspire the spirit of disclosure?”

Netanyahu said it wasn’t about disclosure but about a “commitment” made by Iran to disclose “what it has.”

“You can make all your assumptions,” Netanyahu continued. “One thing is clear, Israel is not threatening the annihilation of any country.”

NBC News reported Tuesday that U.S. officials say Israel "seems to be preparing for war with Iran."

NEW: Israel seems to be preparing for war with Iran, say U.S. officials. https://t.co/5L2dNRTFHE

— NBC News World (@NBCNewsWorld) May 1, 2018

Israel has had its own secret nuclear weapons program since the 1960's. Unlike Iran, experts agree they've used it to develop some 200 nuclear bombs which they refuse to acknowledge exist as it would mean Israel is violating US non-proliferation law..

According to a report in NBC News on Tuesday, two US intelligence officials said Netanyahu's dramatic presentation Monday "didn't contain any big surprises for the U.S. intelligence community" and the information he revealed has been "known for years."

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Israel backs down from threats

Here's the back-down

Barak hints U.S. military preparations may eliminate Israel's need for Iran strike

Comments come in the wake of a meeting between Barak and Netanyahu with U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and National Security Advisor Tom Donilon over a possible military confrontation with Iran.

Haaretz,

6 September, 2012

Defense Minister Ehud Barak hinted Thursday that there may be no need for an Israeli strike on Iran, due to the unprecedented concentration of U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf. Barak spoke shortly after meeting with Admiral James Winnefeld, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who is visiting Israel.

"Israel retains its right to make sovereign decisions and the United States respects that," Barak said at an Atzmaut party gathering. "However, one should not ignore the impressive preparations by the Americans to counter Iran on all fronts."

Barak made the comments after he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were briefed by U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and National Security Advisor Tom Donilon regarding U.S. preparations for a possible confrontation with Iran.

A month ago, Haaretz revealed that Donilon presented Netanyahu with the details concerning the strengthening of U.S. forces in the gulf.

"As opposed to the Bush administration, the Obama administration is indeed carrying out steps in the gulf, transferring forces and preparing bases," a top Israeli official said. "There is an unprecedented U.S. deployment opposite Iran."

Barak said that while there are differences between the Israeli and U.S. points of view on Iran, "the U.S. is our most important ally. The intelligence cooperation and security backing Israel receives at present is exceptional in its scope."

Barak's more moderate remarks follow Netanyahu's more temperate statements earlier this week. Barak said on Monday that if the world outlined "clear red lines" for Iran, the chances of war would be reduced. Netanyahu refrained in recent days from mentioning Israel's right to self=defense or making any other remark which might imply that Israel was planning to bomb Iran.