Overview
- Thirty House Democrats led by Rep. Joaquin Castro asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to publicly acknowledge Israel’s nuclear program and brief Congress on it.
- Their letter seeks numbers of warheads and launchers, details on fissile material and enrichment, and any stated doctrine or red lines for nuclear use.
- The lawmakers tie the request to ongoing U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran to reduce the risk of miscalculation that could endanger American forces.
- They also ask for an assessment of dangers to civilians near Israel’s Dimona site after Iranian missiles wounded dozens in March.
- The move tests a long U.S. policy of silence as Israel maintains a neither-confirm-nor-deny stance and remains outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.