The Worst-Kept Secret: Israel's Bargain with the Bomb

by Avner Cohen

Israel has made a unique contribution to the nuclear age. It has created a special "bargain" with the bomb. Israel is the only nuclear-armed state that does not acknowledge its possession of the bomb, even though its existence is a common knowledge throughout the world. It only says that it will not be the first to introduce nuclear weapons to the Middle East.

The bomb is Israel's collective ineffable—the nation's last great taboo. This bargain has a in Hebrew, it is called amimut , or opacity. By adhering to the bargain, which was born in a secret deal between Richard Nixon and Golda Meir, Israel has created a code of nuclear conduct that encompasses both governmental policy and societal behavior. The bargain has deemphasized the salience of nuclear weapons, yet it is incompatible with the norms and values of a liberal democracy. It relies on secrecy, violates the public right to know, and undermines the norm of public accountability and oversight, among other offenses. It is also incompatible with emerging international nuclear norms.

Author of the critically acclaimed Israel and the Bomb , Avner Cohen offers a bold and original study of this politically explosive subject. Along with a fair appraisal of the bargain's strategic merits, Cohen critiques its undemocratic flaws. Arguing that the bargain has become increasingly anachronistic, he calls for a reform in line with domestic democratic values as well as current international nuclear norms. Most ironic, he believes Iran is imitating Israeli amimut . Cohen concludes with fresh perspectives on Iran, Israel, and the effort toward global disarmament.

Genres: Nonfiction, Israel, Middle East, Science, History

416 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2010

About the author

Avner Cohen is writer, historian, and professor, and is well known for his works on nuclear weapons. Cohen received a B.A. in Philosophy from Tel Aviv University in 1975. He went on to study at York University where he received an M.A. in Philosophy in 1977 and four years later earned a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in the History of Culture. After these studies he embarked on an academic career, returning to Tel Aviv University in 1983 to join the department of philosophy. He went on to hold positions at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard and is presently affiliated with the University of Maryland, College Park and the Monterey Institute of International Studies' James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies.

Cohen has researched various issues with regard to nuclear weapons, including deterrence, morality, and proliferation. His seminal work, Israel and the Bomb, which chronicled the Israeli nuclear program, was published in 1998. This book led him to encounter problems with the Israeli censor, and provoked substantial legal difficulties upon his return to Israel to give a keynote speech at an academic conference.

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very academic book (a bit overly pedantic in its style) that explains the history of Israel's acquisition of the nuclear bomb and the deal it made with the United States to keep it secret. But more importantly, Cohen describes, explains and analyzes the culture that supports this "worst-kept secret" and allows it to stay in sort of a twilight purgatory: everyone knows Israel has nuclear weapons, but no one (both inside and outside of the country) openly and directly discusses (or even acknowledges) it. While I found the style rather plodding, and the narrative began to seem a bit repetitive towards the end of the book (it could have been shorter), I found the book to be interesting and quite illuminating. What I wish I had was some current commentary from the author (who wrote this book in 2010), because much of Israel's "angst" centers on Iran and its own nuclear capability -- and that issue now is the subject of intense negotiations. Cohen had predicted in the book that when the issue of Iran's possession of "the bomb" finally came to the fore, Israel would have to give up its policy of "amimut" (opacity) and either surrender its own arsenal or at least go public. So far, however, it seems that Israel is managing to stay mum, with the complicity of the United States and everyone else.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good history of Israel's policy of amimut, with not just the military aspects of it but the cultural elements as well. Cohen also argues well for Israel to become an open nuclear state and while very convincing, I don't agree with his assessment. Still a very important discussion to be had.

[T. Farhat · Rating 4 out of 5]

An insightful book. It tackles the topic from many unthought perspectives.

[Tab · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously well-researched and I daresay, likely THE authoritative book on the subject. More of a theoretical/academic treatise-type book than a dedicated account of the development and current status of the issue.

Author frequently repeats himself and could have easily made the same points with about 1/4 of the total wordage used. Found myself skimming ahead several times in the middle of the book when he got bogged down restating the same ideas for the fifth or sixth time.

That said, worth a read if you're interested in the topic.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An insightful overview of Israel's policy of nuclear opacity. However, some of the book's policy recommendations -- which aim to bring Israel into the international nuclear mainstream, as India was able to accomplish in 2008 -- seemed a bit out of synch with the reality of Israel's regional security environment.