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Belief in the Origins: How did the Israeli policy of 'preventing an enemy country from acquiring nuclear weapons' come about?

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      Israel's policy of "preventing an enemy country from acquiring nuclear weapons" is deeply rooted in its existential security concerns and historical experiences. It's often referred to as the "Begin Doctrine," after Prime Minister Menachem Begin, but its origins predate his premiership and stem from‫اقرأ المزيد

      Israel’s policy of “preventing an enemy country from acquiring nuclear weapons” is deeply rooted in its existential security concerns and historical experiences. It’s often referred to as the “Begin Doctrine,” after Prime Minister Menachem Begin, but its origins predate his premiership and stem from the very founding of the state.

      Here’s a breakdown of how this policy came about:

      1. Post-Holocaust “Never Again” Mentality and Existential Threat:

      • Founding Principle: The nascent state of Israel, established in 1948, emerged just a few years after the Holocaust, an event that profoundly shaped the psyche of its leaders. The “never again” mentality became a central tenet of Israeli security doctrine.
      • Vulnerability: Surrounded by Arab states that initially refused to recognize its existence and engaged in multiple wars with it, Israel faced immense conventional military superiority from its neighbors. This created a deep-seated fear of annihilation.
      • Ultimate Security Assurance: Early leaders like David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister, were “nearly obsessed” with obtaining nuclear weapons as the ultimate security guarantee against another existential threat. He believed Israel could not rely solely on allies for its survival.

      2. Development of Israel’s Nuclear Program (1950s-1960s):

      • Strategic Ambiguity: From the outset, Israel pursued a policy of “nuclear opacity” or “strategic ambiguity” – neither confirming nor denying the existence of its nuclear arsenal. This policy served to deter potential aggressors without provoking an overt arms race or international condemnation.
      • French Assistance: Despite U.S. concerns about proliferation, Israel secretly began building the Dimona nuclear facility in the late 1950s, largely with French assistance. The first deliverable nuclear weapon is thought to have been completed by late 1966 or early 1967.
      • Deterrence: The primary motivation for acquiring nuclear capability was deterrence – to discourage large-scale conventional attacks or non-conventional attacks by Arab states.

      3. The “Begin Doctrine” and the Osirak Strike (1981):

      • The Catalyst: The clearest articulation and operationalization of this policy came with Prime Minister Menachem Begin. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Iraq, under Saddam Hussein, was developing a nuclear reactor at Osirak (also known as Tammuz-1) with French assistance. Israel believed this reactor was intended for the production of nuclear weapons and posed an existential threat.
      • “Never Again” in Action: Despite international opposition and U.S. concerns, Begin authorized a preemptive airstrike, known as Operation Opera, on June 7, 1981, which successfully destroyed the Osirak reactor.
      • Formal Declaration: Two days after the attack, Begin held a press conference and famously stated: “On no account shall we permit an enemy to develop weapons of mass destruction against the people of Israel. We shall defend the citizens of Israel in good time and with all the means at our disposal.” He explicitly linked it to the Holocaust, saying, “Another Holocaust would have happened in the history of the Jewish people. Never again, never again!”
      • Precedent: Begin declared that this attack would set a “precedent for every future government in Israel.” This enshrined the principle of preventive military action against perceived nuclear threats.

      4. Continuation of the Doctrine:

      • Syria (2007): The Begin Doctrine was invoked again in 2007 under Prime Minister Ehud Olmert when Israel launched Operation Orchard, destroying a suspected Syrian nuclear reactor at Al-Kibar, which was believed to be under construction with North Korean assistance. This strike, like Osirak, was carried out with little international outcry once the details became known.
      • Iran: The doctrine heavily influences Israel’s approach to Iran’s nuclear program. Israeli leaders, particularly Benjamin Netanyahu, have consistently stated that Israel will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, employing a combination of diplomatic pressure, sanctions, covert operations (like cyberattacks and assassinations of scientists), and the implicit threat of military action. Recent reporting, as of June 2025, suggests Israel may have acted again on this doctrine against Iranian nuclear facilities.

      In essence, Israel’s policy of preventing enemy states from acquiring nuclear weapons is a deeply ingrained part of its national security doctrine, born out of a unique historical context of existential vulnerability and cemented by a willingness to undertake preemptive military action when it perceives a direct and intolerable threat to its survival.

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