Extent of Israeli nukes a “mystery”
Israel’s atomic weaponry remains a “mystery” to the UN’s nuclear watchdog, according to IAEA chief Mohamed el Baradei.
Mr el Baradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told Dubai-based Al Arabiya television he could not give any “precise viewpoint” as the IAEA did not conduct inspections in Israel.
“I know that it’s a developed programme, and Israel does not deny that it has nuclear capability, however the size of the programme, the extent of its development, really I can’t know.”
“It’s enough for me to know that it has nuclear capability, there is a conviction that it has a nuclear weapon.”
Israel is estimated to have between 100 and 200 atomic warheads but chooses not to confirm or deny possession of nuclear weapons and balks at signing the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
Mr el Baradei said Israel was hesitant to embrace the NPT agreement because several states in the Middle East refused to recognise its right to nationhood.
