Secretary of State Acknowledges Global Assessment of Israel's Nuclear Weapons

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a congressional hearing that most of the world assesses Israel has nuclear weapons while restating the policy of not confirming the program's existence. Rep. Joaquin Castro asked Rubio whether Israel maintains a nuclear weapons program.

Rubio replied that open-source reporting and other suspicions exist and that most of the world assesses Israel possesses such weapons.

Rubio added that Israel has never publicly acknowledged a nuclear program and that U.S. foreign policy has followed the same approach for a variety of reasons. Every U.S. presidential administration since President Nixon has maintained an understanding with Israel under which neither side acknowledges the program and the U.S. does not press Israel to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The arrangement has allowed military assistance to continue without triggering the 1976 Symington Amendment, which bars aid to countries that receive nuclear enrichment equipment or technology outside international safeguards.

Castro called the response bizarre and expressed concern over Israel's potential nuclear red lines and the lack of information provided to Congress for oversight of military operations. Rubio described the concerns as fair and offered to address additional questions in a classified briefing.

Castro had previously led a letter from Democratic lawmakers requesting details on Israel's nuclear program; the State Department referred the group to the Israeli government.