Peres biog: Israel, France had pact to produce nukes {edit}

[Englander]

Peres biography: Israel, France had secret pact to produce nuclear weapons

By Reuters

Israel and France once made a secret deal to produce a nuclear bomb together, according to a new biography of Vice Premier Shimon Peres.

The deal was later cancelled, but the disclosure in the book by historian Michael Bar-Zohar sheds new light on the depth of France's involvement in Israel's nuclear program.

Bar-Zohar told Reuters his information came from recently released documents from Israeli and French government archives relating to the key role Peres, now 83, played in launching Israel's nuclear project more than half a century ago.

The book divulges new details of how Peres served as a behind-the-scenes architect of Israel's military might, securing weapons secretly and buying an atomic reactor from France.

More at;
Haaretz

[dave_p]

1. Old news

It's long been known that France agreed in September 1956 to help Israel with its nuclear program, and the two countries cooperated closely until 1967, when de Gaulle severed the alliance following israel's occupation of Gaza & the West Bank.

France wasn't the only culprit. Britain secretly supplied 20 tons of deuterium oxide for the project, passing it off as a Norwegian-Israeli transaction (documents). No "peaceful use" condition was imposed on the material.

The US wasn't informed of the deal, but American inspection of the Dimona facility was quietly abandoned during the 1960s in the face of Israeli stonewalling. After France ditched Israel, Washington stepped in swiftly to take its place, but by then Israel had its bomb.