Israel Flag for Israel

Country Spotlight

Although Israel has possessed nuclear weapons since the 1960s, it maintains a policy of nuclear opacity, never officially confirming the existence of its nuclear program. Accordingly, Israel has never signed the NPT. Israel manufactures and deploys a diverse range of technologically sophisticated ballistic missile, cruise missile, and missile defense systems.

See Israel's performance in:

Region   Middle East and North Africa

90 Estimated nuclear warheads

980 kg Approximate plutonium stockpile, potentially enough for 170-278 nuclear weapons

5 Dolphin-I and Dolphin II-class submarines operated, believed capable of launching nuclear cruise missiles

5,500+ km Potential range of the new Jericho III intermediate-range ballistic missile


Nuclear

  • Believed to possess enough nuclear material to produce approximately 200 nuclear weapons
  • No declared nuclear weapons tests, but believed to have conducted atmospheric test in cooperation with South Africa in 1979
  • Opposes diplomatic efforts to establish a WMD Free Zone in the Middle East

Israel Nuclear Overview


Biological

  • Non-membership in BTWC and lack of public commentary has led to speculation of offensive weapons capabilities
  • Operates sophisticated biodefense program
  • Adopted export controls on biological materials in line with Australia Group standards

Israel Biological Overview


Missile

  • Domestically produces variety of missiles including sea-launched cruise missiles as well as short and long range ballistic missiles
  • Employs a sophisticated multi-layered missile defense system, which includes the Arrow-2, Arrow-3, David’s Sling, and Iron Dome systems
  • Considered unilateral adherent to the MTCR restrictions on missile exports

Israel Missile Overview


Chemical

  • Evidence suggests development of an extensive chemical weapons program in the 1950s
  • Likely possesses capability to produce nerve agents, including binary agents
  • Maintains active chemical weapons defense program

Israel Chemical Overview

Treaties and Regimes Memberships

See all Treaties & Regimes

NPT

The NPT is a treaty aimed at limiting the spread of nuclear weapons through the three pillars of non-proliferation, disarmament, and peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Learn More

Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) requires countries to destroy all chemical weapons and prohibits developing, stockpiling, or using chemical weapons.

Learn More

Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)

The BTWC mandates the elimination of existing biological weapons and prohibits developing, stockpiling, or using biological and toxin weapons.

Learn More

Conference on Disarmament (CD)

The Conference on Disarmament (CD) has 65 Member States and is the sole negotiating body for multilateral nuclear disarmament.

Learn More


Analysis

Israel

Education Center

Extensive resources on nuclear policy, biological threats, radiological security, cyber threats and more.

Explore the Center

Sources

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, SIPRI Yearbook 2020: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security, 44th ed, Oxford University Press, 2020. p 375.

International Panel on Fissile Materials, “Global Fissile Material Report 2022,” July 29, 2022, https://fissilematerials.org.

National Security Council, Memorandum, “Subject: South Atlantic Nuclear Event,” October 22, 1979 (Washington, DC, 1979), p. 1.

Avner Cohen, “Israel and Chemical/Biological Weapons: History, Deterrence, and Arms Control,” The Nonproliferation Review, Fall/Winter 2001, p. 40.

Magnus Normark, Anders Lindblad, Anders Norqvist, Björn Sandström, and Louise Waldenström, “Israel and WMD: Incentives and Capabilities,” (Umeå: FOI — Swedish Defence Research Agency, 2005), pp. 36-40.

Close

My Resources