Israeli Nuclear Policy

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more feasible. Under President Eisenhower, the United States issued an “Atoms for Peace” policy that stressed the constructive uses of nuclear energy (Hersh, 1993). Following this policy, Eisenhower was also able to work with the U.S. Congress in order to declassify nuclear research information and permit the allotment of nuclear materials. Taking full advantage of the United States’ new stance, Israel agreed to the purchase of a small nuclear reactor from the U.S. with the understanding that the reactor was to be used for experimental and research purposes only. The hope was that Israel would be able to study the reactor and its workings to be able to sufficiently produce nuclear power itself (1993). Although Israel was still without its own nuclear technology, its push towards attaining nuclear proficiency was again underway.
Ultimately uncertain of the type and extent of assistance that the United States would offer, Israel decided to turn elsewhere for help in constructing a nuclear reactor; because of the political situation a...