Overview
- More than two dozen House Democrats sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which The Washington Post obtained Tuesday, asking for public acknowledgment of Israel’s undeclared nuclear program.
- They argue that keeping quiet weakens U.S. nonproliferation efforts and blocks Congress from doing oversight, and they warn that silence increases the risk of miscalculation and nuclear use.
- The letter seeks details on Israel’s capabilities, including where it produces fissile material and what red lines it has set for possible nuclear use.
- Some U.S. officials, speaking anonymously, say Israel’s threshold for nuclear use may be lower than Washington assumed, a worry sharpened after March missile strikes near Dimona and Arad exposed gaps in Israeli air defenses.
- The push breaks with the long-standing U.S. practice of nuclear ambiguity toward Israel, and there has been no public comment from the State Department or Israel as Rep. Joaquin Castro says he will publish the administration’s reply.