nuclear-news

Israel undecided on Saudi Arabia’s demand for civil nuclear technology

Israel’s security establishment is categorically opposed to the possibility of Saudi Arabia obtaining civil nuclear capabilities, but the political echelon in Israel has not made up its mind yet.

June 6, 2023, Ben Caspit @BenCaspit AL MONITOR

TEL AVIV — Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz expressed on Monday reservations about Saudi Arabia’s plans to establish a US-backed nuclear power program, in a first public statement on the issue by a senior Israeli official.

Katz made this statement as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was preparing to fly to Saudi Arabia for talks expected to include discussions of the nuclear program for which the Saudis are seeking US technology and know-how……………………………………………………………….

The Israeli defense establishment is not enthusiastic, to say the least, about Saudi access to nuclear energy, let alone uranium enrichment on its soil.

“We have been saying for years that a nuclear program in Iran will expose the entire Middle East to a nuclear arms race. This is no different in the Saudi case. With the Iranians enriching uranium to military grade and the Saudis on their way to doing so, there is no doubt that within a short time we will see progress toward nuclear weapons in Egypt, the Gulf and elsewhere as well. There is no vacuum on such a strategic issue, certainly not in the Middle East,” said an Israeli security official, speaking on condition of anonymity………………………………..

Read more: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/06/israel-undecided-saudi-arabias-demand-civil-nuclear-technology#ixzz83zTNMzql

June 9, 2023 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics international