Alwaght- Israeli regime�s first step to become a nuclear power dates back to late 1948, the same year the regime was established. In 1949, Haiem Wisemen, the regime�s PM, received a suggestion from university professors and students asking for sending a group of Israeli university students to the European and the American technological and scientific centers to learn about nuclear energy. In the same year the Israeli regime sent 6 nuclear technicians to the European countries. In the beginning, the Israeli regime�s attempts to join the club of nuclear countries were conducted secretly. However, after 1967 Arab-Israeli war, the Tel Aviv�s struggles to attain nuclear weapon were publicized. With the return of David Ben Gurion to power in 1955-1958, and establishing close and friendly ties with France, the grounds for starting a national nuclear project were provided. France�s technological support facilitated the Israeli regime's attempts to build nuclear plants, as it provided the regime with material necessary for running the plants. Finally, the regime�s nuclear bomb was built and since then the Israeli regime was formally recognized as a nuclear power.

Generally, the Tel Aviv�s nuclear program�s evolution and growth categorizes in four stages. During the first stage, 1948-1963, Israeli regime began attempts to achieve nuclear fuel and train nuclear scientists and personnel. Also, the regime signed deals with countries having the nuclear technology and started cooperations with the US and France. During the second stage, 1963-1966, Israeli regime, supplied technologically by South Africa, took steps towards building nuclear weapons. From 1966 to 1986, the third stage, Israeli regime took political decisions to finalize building nuclear weapons, a period affected by 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Beginning in 1986, the fourth stage has continued up to now. In this period of time Mordechai Vanunu, the Israeli regime�s nuclear expert, announced that the regime has became a nuclear power by informing that Tel Aviv regime is participating in India�s nuclear tests.

The Israeli regime�s reactors

Dimona

Establishing Dimona reactor in 1967is considered as a fundamental step for Tel Aviv towards developing nuclear weapons. It is located in Beersheba and Sodom desert area, a location chosen due to its proximity to the Uranium resources in Negev Desert. Operating� by uranium 90%, the reactor is able to produce 40 kilograms of plutonium every year, as heavy water is used in the heart of the reactor. The Dimona nuclear plant is assigned to produce plutonium, the essential material for nuclear bomb production. Currently, the Dimona plan produces plutonium 239 and enriched uranium 235 as well. The French Atomic Energy Commission was accountable for building Dimona nuclear plant to deepen France-Israeli regime�s nuclear cooperations. The Dimona reactor was built after France and the Israeli regime created a military allegiance as a result of a French-Israeli plan. Actually, the North Africa, West Asia and the Suez Canal�s conditions were the main factors leading to this unprecedented allegiance. In other words, France's help to Israeli regime to build Dimona can be regarded as a gift for its participation in France's 1957 war against Egypt. France also provided Tel Aviv with great amount of facilities necessary for operating Dimona nuclear reactor, which included heavy water, natural uranium reactor, and a plutonium rehabilitation factory in Beersheba in Negev Desert. Primitively, the Israeli regime covered up establishment of its nuclear plant, however, later on , the news and details of the regime�s nuclear activates were disclosed.

Rishon LeZion

Rishon LeZion was the first Israeli nuclear reactor that was built by investments of the American companies Automax and AMF. Located in Rishon LeZion city, the reactor was finished on 25 November, 1956, as it was inaugurated on 12 November, 1957. The reactor produces arsenic, sozium, iron, iodine, cobalt, nickel, phosphorus and sodium. The Rishon LeZion is a center for conducting scientific research and producing radiant bodies, as it so makes 8 million watts of thermal energy. Aspired by Eisenhower Doctrine �Atom for Peace�, and to develop the reactor, the Israeli regime sent students to the United States Atomic Energy Commination�s (USAEC) research centers in Argonne National Lab to do researches and get nuclear-related educations. A London Institution for Strategic Studies� report suggests that the Rishon LeZion nuclear reactor has the capability to make a nuclear bomb every year.

Nahal Sorek

After successful operation of Rishon LeZion, and return of nuclear students to the regime, the Israeli regime�s officials have decided to initiate another nuclear reactor specializing in radiant bodyes� production. The regime signed a deal with the US within the mechanism of the Eisenhower Doctrine �Atom for Peace�, a program for civilian use of nuclear energy. According to the terms of the deal the US was to help the Israeli regime with building a nuclear reactor in southern Tel Aviv�s Nahal Sorek. So, the regime started negotiations with the American company Automax International to build a new reactor. Finally, the US agreed to build a 5 megawatts reactor, operating with light water. The construction of the Nahal Sorek reactor started on 17 September, 1958, and concluded on 22 December, 1958. The reactor can be used for radiant bodies' production and research and development purposes.

Internationally, the Nahal Sorek reactor is known as a nuclear weapons research and development center, as it is equipped with a nuclear weapon research and designing laboratory, and possibly nuclear fission facilities.

Located near residential area, the Nahal Sorek reactor is highly susceptible and tragically harmful in case of a faulty operation or a military attack. The aims behind building Nahal Sorek are different. It was established for strategic objectives, specifically after 1956 Suez Canal War, and it is also used for civilian objectives. Producing plutonium, the reactor is believed to have the capability to make atomic bomb.

Nahal Sorek reactor is pivotal in the Israeli regime�s nuclear developments, as it facilitates nuclear researches. The reactor is seen as a stepping stone in the process of the regime�s nuclear program�s evolution.

Nabi Rubin Nuclear reactor

Cooperating with its scientific research council, the Israeli regime, on 17 January, 1966, started planning for building a new nuclear reactor.� Afterwards, the new reactor, dubbed Nabi Rubin, was built in cooperation with the American company, Automax International. Superseding the Dimona reactor in power, the new reactor produced 200 megawatts energy. The total construction cost of Nabi Rubin reactor is nearly 200 million USD. The reactor is able to make nuclear weapons, as it is used to sweetening water and electricity production. After Dimona reactor, Nabi Rubin is the Israeli regime�s most significant nuclear reactor.

In addition to the mentioned nuclear reactors, the Israeli regime owns other nuclear reactors and facilities, the major activity of which is nuclear weapons production. There are adequate amount of documents proving this claim, as the US deputy secretary of state, on July 21, 1975, disclosed that� Israel owns 10 nuclear bombs as big as those dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Most important disclosures on the Israeli regime�s nuclear program were done by Mordechai Vanunu, a nuclear expert who worked in the regime�s Dimona reactor for 19 years. In his interview with London�s Sunday Times he revealed on October 1986 Tel Aviv�s nuclear capabilities. According to Vanunu, the Israeli regime stockpiled 100-200 nuclear bombs. In 1986, Mordechai Vanunu was kidnapped by Israeli regime's intelligence service in Italy and then sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Enjoying the US and France�s supply of technology, the Israeli regime has cooperated with South Africa, Taiwan, China, Pakistan and India to move ahead in developing its nuclear weapons.

By Alwaght