Memorandum on Israeli and UAR Nuclear
Capabilities
(March 22, 1963)
This is a memorandum from Robert W. Komer of the National Security
Council Staff to President Kennedy discussing Israeli and UAR nuclear weapon and missile capabilities.
Israeli/UAR nuclear and missile capabilities. What
Rusk referred to Thursday was apparently an editorial in the London
weekly Jewish Observer and Middle East Review of 2 February on "An
Independent Deterrent for Israel." It doesn't mention nuclear weapons
but says a decision to proceed on such a deterrent has been taken (for
reasons similar to De Gaulle's).
We're pushing ahead on plans for next inspection of Israeli reactor
[2-1/2 lines of source text not declassified].
Israel's current campaign publicizing German technical help to UAR
suggests not only genuine Israeli concern but also that they: (1) are
trying to justify their agent operations in Europe; and (2) may also
be attempting to create justification for going ahead on their own nuclear
program.
As for the UAR, we have carefully reviewed the Israeli evidence Mike
Feldman showed you sometime ago. The UAR is trying to develop surface-to-surface
missiles, using hired German help, but this effort looks far less menacing
than the Israelis suggest. Nor do we have any evidence that the Egyptians
are planning to use cobalt or strontium 90 isotopes in radiological
warheads. This is technically most difficult, and probably beyond UAR
capabilities.
We ought to try hard to forestall a new UAR/Israeli missile and nuclear
arms race and the most promising option seems to be some form of tacit
arms control along the lines of the Rostow paper you read last month.
State is working on this project, but a word from you to Rusk would
give it a needed push. I hope to feel out UAR attitudes on my trip next
month, but any formal initiative ought to wait till Yemen is out of
the way.
Bob Komer
Sources: Foreign
Relations of the United States, 1961-1963: Near East, 1962-1963, V.
XVIII. |