- The US-Saudi nuclear deal allows Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium, sparking fears in Israel of a regional arms race.
- Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called the deal "a serious strategic failure that endangers our security" and warned of a "regional nuclear race."
- Former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the civilian program "will end in nuclear weapons and lead to a crazy arms race throughout the Middle East." He urged Israel to lobby Congress.
- Benny Gantz, former defence chief, stated no security official would view introducing civilian nuclear capability into Saudi Arabia without integrating it into a moderate regional alliance as good for Israel's security.
- The deal was stalled for years due to nonproliferation warnings that it could offer a path to a nuclear weapon, while Israelis had hoped it would be tied to normalisation with Saudi Arabia.
The Trump administration's nuclear accord with Saudi Arabia has sparked significant concern in Israel, with leaders warning it could trigger a regional arms race. The deal permits Saudi Arabia to build nuclear reactors and enrich uranium, raising fears of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.1
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett criticized the agreement as a "serious strategic failure", stating it endangers Israeli security and could lead to a "dangerous loss of control" in the region. He emphasized that nuclear enrichment on Saudi soil poses a direct threat to Israel's safety.2
Former Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman echoed these sentiments, asserting that the civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia is likely to culminate in nuclear weapons, potentially igniting a "crazy arms race" across the Middle East. He urged Israel to oppose the deal and lobby Congress to halt it.34
Benny Gantz, another former defence chief, remarked that no security official would endorse introducing civilian nuclear capabilities in Saudi Arabia without a broader strategy for a moderate regional alliance, highlighting the risks involved.5
The nuclear deal has been in development for years, facing opposition from nonproliferation advocates who warn it could pave the way for Saudi Arabia to develop nuclear weapons. Israelis had hoped any agreement would coincide with a normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia, as outlined in the Biden administration's plans.
“Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called the accord "a serious strategic failure that endangers our security" and warned it could trigger a regional nuclear race. The deal had been stalled for years due to nonproliferation warnings that it could offer a path to a nuclear weapon, and Israelis had hoped it would be tied to normalization with Saudi Arabia.”
