ALWAGHT- A group of 29 US lawmakers has written to the administration, calling for the public release of information about Israel's nuclear program—an effort that has operated covertly since the late 1950s.
A group of House Democrats, led by Joaquin Castro, has called on the Trump administration to publicly disclose Israel's undeclared nuclear weapons program—a move that would break with decades of US policy upholding Israeli nuclear ambiguity. In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the 29 lawmakers argued that Washington's silence on the issue is "indefensible" amid the ongoing war against Iran and the risk of military escalation. They warned that the risks of miscalculation, escalation, and potential nuclear weapon use are not hypothetical, and that Congress has a constitutional responsibility to be fully informed about the nuclear balance in the Middle East.
The letter represents a significant break from a longstanding taboo, according to historian Avner Cohen, who noted that US and Israeli silence on the nuclear issue dates back to an informal 1969 agreement between President Richard Nixon and Prime Minister Golda Meir. The lawmakers argue that current US policy undermines American credibility, as Washington seeks to limit nuclear programs in Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE while refusing to acknowledge Israel's own nuclear arsenal. Daryl Kimball of the Arms Control Association added that Israel's policy of ambiguity allows it to divert attention to other regional countries pursuing nuclear activities.
The push for transparency reflects a broader shift within the Democratic Party toward Israel, driven by frustration over civilian casualties in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. Recent polls show 80 percent of Democrats now view Israel unfavorably, up from 53 percent in 2022. Former Obama official Jeremy Shapiro noted that many Democrats want fundamental changes in the US-Israel relationship, including holding Israel to the same standards as other nations on nuclear issues. Castro emphasized that Israel's nuclear program should not be kept secret from the world, adding that while he could accept classified briefings on certain details, the fundamental question of whether Israel possesses nuclear weapons must be answered publicly.
