Interview with Yuval Neeman, 1987

Yuval Ne'eman was an Israeli theoretical physicist, a member of the Atomic Energy Commission from 1962-1984, and Minister of Science from 1982-1984. In the interview he discusses Israel's nuclear program and policies. He describes the development of the nuclear program and the Atomic Energy Commission from the very beginning of the Israeli state in 1948, including a brief description of the country's cooperation with France. He describes official Israeli nuclear strategy in the context of defending the country against potentially nuclear-capable Arab states. However he does not see the benefit of a nuclearized Middle East because, with Israel's small size, it has a low probability of surviving a nuclear conflict. Furthermore, in his view, an Arab leader might be willing to have some Arab cities annihilated in return for the chance to get rid of Israel. While he is in basic agreement with official Israeli policy, he also finds certain alternative (non-nuclear) strategies appealing, arguing that Israel's nuclear deterrent is sometimes simply not credible, in part because of the country's size. He also describes Israel's position in the international arena, and explains its opposition to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.