The claim
“Israel has been believed to have nuclear weapons since the 1960s but has never officially confirmed it.”
Background in coverage of the Iran war.
Our verdict
True
Israel is widely believed to have developed nuclear weapons by the late 1960s and keeps a policy of ambiguity.
What we found
Israel's programme began in the late 1950s with French help; the 1969 Meir-Nixon understanding accepted its capability as long as it did not declare it. Israel has never confirmed an arsenal. The claim is accurate.
The evidence
2 of 2 sources support the claim; none contradict it.
How we checked
We checked the claim against AP via WSLS, Nuclear Threat Initiative. We reviewed 2 relevant sources.
Sources
- [1]Nuclear Threat Initiative · Israel nuclear facilities
- [2]AP via WSLS · As it attacks Iran's nuclear program, Israel maintains ambiguity about its own
Have evidence we missed?
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