How Israel Stole U.S. Uranium to Build Its Nuclear Arsenal — And How JFK Tried to Stop It 🧵
1/ In the 1960s, the U.S. discovered hundreds of pounds of highly enriched uranium had gone missing from a nuclear facility in Apollo, Pennsylvania.
1/ In the 1960s, the U.S. discovered hundreds of pounds of highly enriched uranium had gone missing from a nuclear facility in Apollo, Pennsylvania.
2/ The missing material — between 200 and 600 pounds of bomb-grade uranium — was enough to make dozens of nuclear weapons.
The company? NUMEC (Nuclear Materials & Equipment Corporation).
The company? NUMEC (Nuclear Materials & Equipment Corporation).
3/ The plant’s founder, Zalman Shapiro, former president of Pittsburgh chapter of the Zionist Organization of America, had deep ties to Israel.
Intelligence agencies found that Israeli intelligence agents had visited NUMEC under suspicious circumstances (disguised as scientists)
Intelligence agencies found that Israeli intelligence agents had visited NUMEC under suspicious circumstances (disguised as scientists)
4/ Despite years of investigations by the FBI, CIA, and the Atomic Energy Commission, no one was ever charged.
But declassified CIA reports in the 2000s concluded the material was likely diverted to Israel.
But declassified CIA reports in the 2000s concluded the material was likely diverted to Israel.
5/ It helped fuel the Dimona nuclear reactor, the secretive site at the center of Israel’s nuclear weapons program — which the country still refuses to officially acknowledge to this day.
6/ 🔍 In 1963, President John F. Kennedy grew increasingly alarmed by reports that Israel’s Dimona reactor was not for peaceful purposes, as Israel repeatedly claimed.
He sent multiple letters to Israeli PM Ben-Gurion, demanding full transparency & regular U.S. inspections.
He sent multiple letters to Israeli PM Ben-Gurion, demanding full transparency & regular U.S. inspections.
7/ Ben-Gurion stalled, offering vague reassurances. Then he resigned — many believe in part to avoid answering JFK’s demands.
His successor, Levi Eshkol, continued to delay and obfuscate.
Eventually, Israel banned U.S. inspectors altogether, cutting off access to Dimona.
His successor, Levi Eshkol, continued to delay and obfuscate.
Eventually, Israel banned U.S. inspectors altogether, cutting off access to Dimona.
8/ JFK’s push to prevent Israeli nuclear weapons was serious. He warned that allowing proliferation would destabilize the Middle East.
He was the last U.S. president to challenge Israel’s nuclear ambitions so directly.
After his assassination in 1963, that pressure vanished.
He was the last U.S. president to challenge Israel’s nuclear ambitions so directly.
After his assassination in 1963, that pressure vanished.
9/ By the late 1960s, U.S. officials adopted a policy of “nuclear ambiguity.”
They knew Israel had the bomb. They knew where the uranium came from. But they chose not to confront it.
They knew Israel had the bomb. They knew where the uranium came from. But they chose not to confront it.
10/ Today, Israel is believed to have over 100 nuclear warheads (possibly more).
It is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
It faces no IAEA inspections.
And it receives billions in U.S. aid each year.
It is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
It faces no IAEA inspections.
And it receives billions in U.S. aid each year.
11/ Meanwhile, Iran — which is an NPT signatory — faces crippling sanctions, sabotage, and war threats without any proof of a nuclear weapons program.
This is the glaring hypocrisy of U.S. foreign policy. If we were honest, the real questions would be aimed at Israel — for the theft, the deception, the unchecked arsenal, & for plunging the region into utter chaos.
This is the glaring hypocrisy of U.S. foreign policy. If we were honest, the real questions would be aimed at Israel — for the theft, the deception, the unchecked arsenal, & for plunging the region into utter chaos.
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