Israel’s Secret Weapon (2003)
Israel’s Secret Weapon is a documentary that sheds light on Israel’s weapons of mass destruction. Let’s get into the details:
- Overview:
- Directed by Giselle Portenier, the film explores a critical aspect: while the United States and Britain were preparing to wage war on Iraq for its undisclosed weapons of mass destruction, Israel’s nuclear, biological, and chemical capabilities remained un-inspected.
- The documentary raises questions about the secrecy surrounding Israel’s nuclear bomb factory and the imprisonment of Mordechai Vanunu, who exposed it to the world in the 1980s. Vanunu is considered a traitor in his own country.
- Key Points:
- Nuclear Ambiguity: Israel has maintained a policy of nuclear ambiguity, neither confirming nor denying its possession of nuclear weapons.
- Dimona Nuclear Facility: The film touches upon the Dimona nuclear facility, where Israel is believed to have developed its nuclear program.
- Shimon Peres’ Role: The young Shimon Peres reportedly negotiated a secret deal with the French to acquire a nuclear weapons reactor similar to theirs. However, intelligence reports indicated that Israel was building an atom bomb during this period.
- Impact and Controversy:
- The documentary had significant repercussions. After its broadcast, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon withdrew cooperation from the BBC.
- The BBC lost access to further interviews, and it was removed from Israeli cable networks.
