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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.

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Region   Middle East and North Africa

90 Estimated nuclear warheads

750–1110 kg Approximate plutonium stockpile, potentially enough for 187-277 nuclear weapons

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

4,800 – 6,500 km Potential range of the Jericho III intermediate-range ballistic missile


Nuclear

  • Believed to possess enough nuclear material to produce up to 300 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

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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.

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Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)

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

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Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)

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

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Conference on Disarmament (CD)

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

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Analysis

Israel

Education Center

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

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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.

Hans Kristensen and Matt Korda, SIPRI Yearbook 2024: World Nuclear Forces Overview, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, January 2024, www.sipri.org.

Eric Wertheim, “Dolphin-Class Submarines: Israel’s Undersea Arsenal,” U.S. Naval Institute, Proceedings, June 2024, www.usni.org.

Missile Defense Project, “Jericho 3,” Missile Threat, Center for Strategic and International Studies, May 12, 2017, https://missilethreat.csis.org.

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