2 January 2007
Israel is set to test for the United Nations an underground installation designed to monitor any attempt by Iran to test nuclear devices. To conduct the test Israel will set off three strong explosions using 15 tons of liquid explosives in the northern Negev desert in order to monitor how those explosions register on equipment at the underground site. Recent nuclear tests conducted in India and Pakistan recorded well at the Negev site. A similar testing site is located near Mount Meron in Upper Galilee.
—"Israel to Initiate Controlled Explosions in Nuclear Activity Detector Test," Agence-France Presse, In OSC Document GMP20070102331001, 2 January 2007.

22 January 2007
Dr. Ariel Levite, deputy director-general of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission, reportedly grouped Israel with other nuclear "threshold states," namely India and Pakistan, at the Herzliya Conference. When questioned by the Jerusalem Post after the conference regarding his statements Dr. Levite denied that he had made any such statement, saying rather that he had, "left Israel to other speakers."
—Anshel Pfeffer, "Israel is nuclear threshold state," Jerusalem Post, 22 January 2007.

24 January 2007
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit urges Israel to join the Nonproliferation Treaty and put its nuclear facilities under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
—"Egypt's FM urges Israel to join the NPT," Xinhua, 24 January 2004.

February 2007
According to the Director General of the Israel Electric Corp Uri Bin-Nun the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission is considering the construction of a nuclear power plant in Israel for electricity generation. This plan was proposed several years ago, and in fact there has already been a site designated in the south of Israel near Shivta for its construction. The reported cost of constructing a nuclear power plant in Israel is estimated at $1.5 billion, and the expected output of the power station would be over 1,000 megawatts of electricity.
—Sharon Qedmi, "Electricity Corporation: Israel Considering Building Nuclear Power Station," Ha'aretz, In OSC Document GMP20070211736003, 11 February 2007; Amir Ben David, "Israel Plans to Build Nuclear Power Plant, Officials Say," Ynet News, 12 February 2007.

28 February 2007
The Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission has ruled that no radioactive materials were found in areas bombed by Israel during the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, contrary to accusations following the fighting. The ruling was based on laboratory tests whose findings were presented during a scientific symposium held in Lebanon.
—Roee Nahmias, "Lebanon acquits Israel of using radioactive materials," Ynet News, 28 February 2007.

13 March 2007
Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres makes a statement which seemingly represents another breach of Israel's policy of nuclear ambiguity. In response to a question regarding Israel's possession of nuclear weapons Peres was quoted as saying, "Israel would not be the first to present nuclear weapons in the Middle East. But unlike other countries, we are not threatening to use them."
—"Peres: Israel 'Not Threatening To Use' Nuclear Weapons, 'Unlike Other Countries,'" Jerusalem Post, In OSC Document GMP20070313735001, 13 March 2007.

20 March 2007
A new biography about Shimon Peres reveals new information about a secret nuclear agreement between Israel and France. The book claims that in 1957, then director-general of Israel's Defense Ministry Shimon Peres, persuaded the French Prime Minister Maurice Bourges-Maunoury to backdate the final nuclear cooperation pact that was the framework for the Dimona deal. The government of Bourges-Maunoury had actually fallen the day before which would have annulled the deal had it been known at the time.
—"Author says Shimon Peres persuaded France to backdate nuclear deal with Israel in 1957," International Herald Tribune, 20 March, 2007.

4 April 2007
Yonatan Leibowitz, Greenpeace Mediterranean communications director releases a report detailing the potential threats posed by Israeli nuclear facilities. Leibowitz was quoted as saying, "Israelis have the right to know where these facilities are and the right to be informed about the serious risks to health and the environment posed by these installations."
—Tal Rabinovsky, "Greenpeace slams Israel's nuclear program," Ynet News, 4 April 2007.

15 April 2007
Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei calls for a Middle East nuclear-arms-free zone, which would include Iran and Israel. He is quoted as saying, "This is the last chance to build security in the Middle East based on trust and cooperation rather than on the possession of nuclear arms." He went on to say, "When a just and comprehensive peace is established between the Arab states and Israel, is should be forged in parallel with a security order based on wiping our all weapons of mass destruction."
—"ElBaradei calls for nuclear-arms-free Mideast," Xinhua, 15 April 2007.

24 May 2007
Hans Blix, Chairman of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission at the United Nations, is calling for Israel to "cease its nuclear fuel cycle and stop enriching uranium." At the Conference on Preventing Nuclear Catastrophe held in Luxembourg, Blix called on Israel to cease enriching uranium and considered is a step toward a "nuclear free Middle East."
—Ya'aqov Lappin,, " 'Stop Dimona,' Says Blix," Ynetnews, in OSC document GMP20070524739010, 24 May 07.

2 July 2007
Mordechai Vanunu, Israel's infamous "nuclear whistleblower," has been sentenced to six more months in jail for violating the terms of his parole. After spending 18 years in prison for giving details of Israel's nuclear program to a British newspaper, Vanunu was banned from leaving the country and talking to foreigners. However, two months ago, he was convicted of parole violations, which included contacts with journalists and attempts to leave Israel.
—Nir Hason, "Vanunu to Return to Prison for Violating the Terms of His Parole," Ha'aretz, in OSC document GMP20070702735002, 02 July 07.

6 August 2007
The Israeli Committee for a Middle East Free from Atomic, Biological and Chemical Weapons is publicly calling for "Israel to open the Dimona nuclear facility to international inspectors." The Committee is demanding that Israel's nuclear facilities be held to the same standards as Iran's.
—Rory Kress, "Israeli Nuclear Activists warn of Potential Disaster," Jerusalem Post, 06 August 07.

16 August 2007
Israeli National Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer recently announced that the ministry is renewing plans to build a new nuclear plant. The nuclear plant would be built along Israel's southern border with Egypt, in a town called Shivta. The Ministry reports the reason behind building a new nuclear plant as diversifying energy sources for the country. Bel-Eliezer has stated that "Israel would agree to put the power reactor under IAEA safeguards but would not extend IAEA safeguards to other facilities in Israel." There have been mixed reactions in the Knesset over the proposed nuclear plant. However, one issue that received almost universal agreement is the fact that Israel is in need of alternative energy sources.
—Neal Sandler, Mark Hibbs, and Daniel Horner, "Israel Counting on US-India Deal to Further Power Reactor Project," Nucleonics Week, 16 August 07; Amir Ben-David, "For the First Time: Israel to Agree to Nuclear Inspection," Yedi'ot Aharonot, in OSC document GMP20070802741005, 02 August 07.

23 August 2007
Elhanan Abramov, Deputy CEO of the Negev Nuclear Research Center, affirmed the safety of the Dimona nuclear reactor. This statement is likely in response to the increasing opposition to the Dimona reactor and calls to shut it down because of health concerns. Abramov confirmed that the reactor is "safe according to Western standards and that every few years, work is halted for a comprehensive renovation."
—Yuval Azoulay, "Nuclear Center exec avows safety of Dimona reactor," Ha'aretz, 23 August 07.

27 August 2007
Construction on the new National Command Center, which is where Israeli leaders would be rushed should Israel suffer a nuclear attack, is progressing and should be completed in 2011. Carved into one of Jerusalem's mountains, the bunker cost $240 million and is designed to withstand a nuclear bomb.
—Ofer Petersburg, "National Command Bunker Being Built," Ynet News, in OSC document GMP20070827738006, 27 September 07.

22 September 2007
Arab nations pushed through an IAEA resolution this week calling on all Middle East nations to give up nuclear weapons, "targeting Israel's undeclared nuclear arsenal." Egypt introduced the resolution and the vote was 53-2, with 47 abstentions by Western nations.
—Reuters, "Arab Challenge to Israel, "The New Zealand Herald," 22 September 07.

30 September 2007
Israel recently submitted a proposal to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). The proposal urges the NSG to "adopt new guidelines allowing the international transfer of nuclear technology to states that have not signed on to nonproliferation rules." Because Israel has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), it is prohibited from trading in nuclear technology internationally. However, Israel's proposal offers a criteria-based approach, including allowing a state to engage in nuclear trade if it applies protection measures to all nuclear weapons, facilities and material in its territory. The timing of this proposal is meant to coincide with the impending deal between the United States and India, another non-signatory to the NPT, which would allow India to import nuclear fuel from the United States.
—Glenn Kessler, "Israel Submits Nuclear Trade Plan; Move May Complicate Efforts to Win Exemption for India," Washington Post, 30 September 07.

18 November 2007
Syrian news sources allege that a plan has recently been implemented by Israel to set up "a winding nuclear strip in spiral caves of nuclear silos and scores of missiles fitted with nuclear warheads and planted mines in the Golan borders along the ceasefire line separating Syria and Israel."
—"Israel Reportedly Plants 'Tactical Nuclear Mines' Along Syrian Border in Golan," Syria News, in OSC document GMP20071118625001, 18 Nov 07.

30 November 2007
A set of documents released this week from the Nixon Presidential Library included memorandums from the late 1960s between Nixon and Henry Kissinger expressing concern about Israel's nuclear weapons program. Specifically, the documents indicated that the United States wavered over whether it should try to persuade Israel to freeze its program and whether it should announce to the world that Israel indeed possessed nuclear weapons.
—David Stout, "A Mideast Nuclear Crisis, in 1969: Declassified Papers Show Nixon's bind over Israeli Program," International Herald Tribune, 30 November 07.

21 January 2008
Israel launches an advanced spy satellite. The TECSAR satellite fabricated by Israel Aerospace Industries is equipped with a SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) payload that gives it the ability to see through clouds and carry out day and night all weather imaging and reconnaissance.
—"PSLV successfully launches Israeli Satellite," ISRO Press Release, 21 January 2008, www.isro.org/ pressrelease/ Jan21_2008.htm; "Israel launches spy satellite, can view Iran through clouds and at night," Associated Press, 21 January 2008.

23 January 2008
The Israel Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC), along with the Israel Port Company and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration, announce the upcoming installation of radiation detection equipment at the Port of Haifa. The Port of Haifa is one of Israel's busiest seaports, and the radiation detection equipment will "help to detect smuggled or illicit shipments of nuclear and other radioactive materials that might move through this port." The project will be useful in providing information to both Israel and the United States on the best way to detect nuclear and radiological materials.
—"Israel Begins Radiation Detection Efforts at Haifa Port," NNSA Press Release, 23 January 2008, www.nnsa.gov/ docs/ newsreleases/ 2008/ PR_2008- 01-23_NA- 08-05.htm.

21 February 2008
Recently made public documents reveal that British officials ordered a negative comment about Israel's nuclear arsenal to be removed from the now-discredited dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. The comment originally appeared against a claim "that no other country (apart from Iraq) has flouted the United Nations' authority so brazenly in pursuit of weapons of mass destruction."
—Richard Norton-Taylor. "How Labour Used the Law to Keep Criticism of Israel Secret," Guardian, 21 Feb 2008; "Report: UK Erased Mention of Israeli Nuke Arsenal," Yedi'ot Aharonot, 21 Feb 2008.

26 February 2008
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba this week during a visit to Tokyo and discussed "the need to counter the threat of nuclear and missile proliferation from countries such as Iran and North Korea."
—"Japan, Israel Agree on Need to Counter Nuclear Proliferation," BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, 26 Feb 2008.

21 March 2008
Germany and Israel announce an effort to try and initiate an international conference aimed at stopping Iran's nuclear program. At a meeting with Prime Minster Ehud Olmert, German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, discussed steps to continue the international pressure on Iran that has developed following the third round of sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council. Furthermore, both leaders discussed enlisting the international community to support their effort.
—Barak Ravid, "Israel, Germany plan int'l summit to stop Iran nuke program," Haaretz, 21 March 2008.

14 April 2008
Israel and the United States sign a nuclear cooperation agreement giving the Israel Atomic Energy Commission access to "nuclear safety data, procedures and technology available in the U.S." This new agreement is an update on previous agreements between the two countries which has been limited to cooperation on only nuclear safety issues.
—Yossi Melman, "Israel and U.S. Sign Nuclear Cooperation Agreement," Ha'aretz, 14 April 2008.

19 May 2008
Israel approves a new Director of the Dimona Nuclear Research Center Negev, Colonel Udi Adam. He will replace Yitzhak Gurevich, who was with the Center for forty years.
—Yosi Melman, "Israel: Res. Colonel Adam Appointed New Director of Nuclear Research Center Negev," Ha'aretz, 19 May 2008.

27 May 2008
In Wales, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter discusses how a future U.S. President should deal with Iran's nuclear program. He contextualizes the issue by observing: "The U.S. has more than 12,000 nuclear weapons, the Soviet Union has about the same [Note: Carter is presumably referring to Russia], Great Britain, and France have several hundred, and Israel has 150 or more. We have a phalanx of enormous weaponry..." This is the first public declaration by a U.S. President that Israel possesses nuclear weapons. Asked to respond to Carter's statement, Israel's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Arye Mekel says, "we never discuss the issue."
—"Israel Has '150 or More' Nuclear Weapons, Carter Says," The Boston Globe, 27 May 2008; Re'uven Pedatzur, "Pundit: Carters Remarks on Israel's Nuclear Status to Strengthen Deterrence Image," Ha'aretz, 28 May 2008; "Israel refuses to Respond to Carter's Remarks on Nuclear Capability," Xinhua, 27 May 2008.

30 May 2008
An ongoing lawsuit in Israeli courts involving former Dimona reactor employees who contracted cancer reveals that the tests performed between 1988 and 1993 on workers and their possible exposure to radioactive materials were faulty. The tests from that period of time showed that workers were not exposed to radioactive materials, while in actuality the detection threshold used by the testing equipment was set too high. The case is currently under review in Israeli courts.
—Yoram Yarqoni, "Israel: Dimona Nuclear Reactor's Tests for Workers' Uranium Exposure Were Flawed," Yedi'ot Aharonot, 30 May 2008.

23 September 2008
Israeli courts shorten nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu's jail sentence from six to three months in consideration of his poor health. Vanunu was released from prison after serving 18 years for revealing Israel's secret nuclear weapons program, but was sentenced to serve six months as a result of contact with foreigners, which violated the terms of his release. He appeared in Israeli courts in July to appeal the sentence.
—"Court Reduces Vanunu's Prison Time from 6 to 3 Months Due to Health," The Jerusalem Post, 23 September 2008; "Jerusalem Court Reduces Vanunu Sentence," Yedi'ot Aharonot," 23 September 2008.

10 December 2008
A new Israeli government sponsored history of Israel's intelligence services, by former Shin Bet internal security service officer Barak Ben-Zur, asserts that the United States routinely collects information about Israel's nuclear capabilities. Titled, Masterpiece: An Inside Look at Sixty Years of Israeli Intelligence, the account states that the United States spies on Israel using "methodical intelligence gathering," including eavesdropping technology and trained staff from the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv. In a Reuters interview, Ben-Zur "described such efforts as largely benign given the closeness of defense ties between Israel and the Bush administration."
—Dan Williams, "U.S. spies on Israel's nukes, gov't: official history," Reuters, 10 December 2008; "U.S. spies on Israel to gain info on its atomic capabilities," Jerusalem Post, 12 December 2008.

5 January 2009
Recent Hamas rocket attacks have renewed Israeli concerns that adversaries could target the Dimona nuclear reactor. Israeli defense officials were initially concerned by Iranian capabilities and intentions, spurring them to place two radar antennae near the reactor. However, Israeli officials believe the frequency and sophistication of Hamas rocket attacks reflect the militant group's growing capabilities. For example, Hamas's Iranian Fajr-3 artillery rockets are longer-range and more sophisticated than previous rocket systems in its arsenal.
—James Hider, "Gaza rockets put Israel's nuclear plant in battle zone," London Times Online, 2 January 2009; "Israel to install radar antennae near nuclear site: report," Agence France-Presse/Space War, 3 October 2008.

10 January 2009
According to unnamed senior American and foreign officials, President Bush denied a secret Israeli request last year for bunker-busting bombs for an attack on Natanz. The Bush administration was particularly alarmed by an Israeli request to fly over U.S. controlled Iraqi airspace. The White House denied the request and reportedly agreed to step up intelligence sharing and brief Israeli officials on new American efforts to subtly sabotage Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Knowledge of American efforts to sabotage Iran’s nuclear program has been closely held, but some Bush administration officials are skeptical about their success. Other officials disagree, arguing that the Israelis would not have been deterred from attacking Iran if they believed American efforts to be ineffective.
—David Sanger, "U.S. Rejected Israeli Bid for Aid to Strike Iran," The New York Times, 11 January 2009; "U.S. Rejected Aid for Israeli Raid on Nuclear Site," The Jerusalem Post, 11 January 2009.

13 January 2009
Israeli officials reject Syrian accusations that traces of uranium detected at the Al-Kibar site are from Israeli munitions. Israel claims the site, bombed in September 2007, was home to a reactor designed to produce plutonium for nuclear weapons, while Syria denies such allegations. Israeli officials have never formally confirmed or denied Israel's role in the bombing. [Note: For additional details on Al-Kibar, see NTI Syria nuclear chronology].
—"Israel denies Syria claim it left traces of uranium at nuclear site bombed by IAF," Reuters, 13 January 2009; Borzou Daragahi, "Speculation grows over Syria site," Los Angeles Times, 20 November 2008.

8 February 2009
Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says no Israeli government will allow Iran to produce a nuclear weapon. Olmert's statements come on the eve of a new Israeli government, more than likely led by Benjamin Netanyahu, who has hinted of a military solution to prevent Iran from producing a nuclear weapon. The consensus of Israeli officials is that a nuclear Iran is not in Israel's interests. However, debate continues over what means should be used to stop Iran from producing a weapon. Israel has used military force in the past to preempt neighbors' suspected nuclear programs, including the 1981 air strike on Iraq's Osirak reactor, and the more recent September 2007 air strike on the alleged Syrian reactor Al-Kibar.
—Dan Williams, "Olmert says no Israeli government would let Iran get nukes," Reuters, 8 February 2009; Jason Koutsoukis, "Israel ready to strike Iran: ex-envoy," Sydney Morning Herald, 14 February 2009; Alon Ben-David, "Iran will be major concern for new Israeli leadership," Jane's Defense Weekly, 12 February 2009.

12 February 2009
Mohammed Naji Mohammed of the United Iraqi Alliance coalition is pursing a parliamentary resolution to seek at least one billion dollars from Israel for its 1981 air strike on the Osirak reactor [Note: See NTI Israel and Iraq Nuclear Chronologies 7 June 1981]. Mohammed is using UN Security Council Resolution 487 as justification for the claim, which "considers that Iraq is entitled to redress for the destruction it has suffered, responsibility for which has been acknowledged by Israel." —"Iraq MPs seek reparation for 1981 Israeli attack on nuclear reactor," Haaretz, 12 February 2009.

26 February 2009
Following Iran’s announcement of the completion of its first nuclear power plant at Bushehr, outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Olmert reiterates Israel’s ability "…to defend itself in all situations, against all threats, [and] against all enemies." Although the Prime Minister did not mention Iran by name, his statement was widely interpreted to have been directed at Iran.
—Borzou Daragahi,"Iran, Russia test joint nuclear reactor in Bushehr," Los Angeles Times, 26 February, 2009; "We are very strong, Israel Warns Iran," The Sydney Morning Herald, 27 February 2009; Behrouz Mehri, "Olmert warns Iran over nuclear plant," Agence France-Presse, 26 February 2009.

	Updated February 2009