HindustanTimes.com

Monday, October 13, 2003

Israel has ability to launch nuclear weapons from submarines

Agence France-Presse
Los Angeles, October 13

Israel has modified US-made cruise missiles to carry nuclear warheads on
submarines, giving it the ability to launch atomic weapons from land, air or
sea, reports said on Monday.

Israel's newly acquired submarine capability will complicate efforts to
persuade Iran to abandon a suspected nuclear weapons programme, The Los
Angeles Times reported.

The missile modification was described to Times reporters by two US
officials and confirmed by an Israeli official, the Times said. All three
spoke on condition of anonymity.

"The Americans said they were disclosing the information to caution Israel's
enemies at a time of heightened tensions in the region and concern over
Iraq's alleged ambitions," the report said.

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied having nuclear arms but Washington
has accepted it as a nuclear power since 1969 and analysts say it has up to
200 sophisticated nuclear weapons, the report said.

"We tolerate nuclear weapons in Israel for the same reason we tolerate them
in Britain and France," a senior US official was quoted as saying. "We don't
regard Israel as a threat."

Arab countries have criticised the United States and United Nations for
pressuring Iran to accept tougher inspections while ignoring Israel's
stockpile.

"A big source of contention is Israel," said a senior UN official trying to
convince Iran to undergo additional inspections. "This is a magnet for other
countries to develop nuclear weapons."

© Hindustan Times Ltd. 2003.
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