Synopsis
Yair Evron examines the problems and dilemmas for Israel that are caused by her possession of nuclear weapons, and the wider implications for Arab/Israeli relations. He gives an account of the development of Israel's nuclear capacity and of disagreements within the military elite over whether an overt nuclear posture should be taken.
The author contends that Israel's possession of nuclear arms has not - with the exception of Iraq - influenced Arab military policy towards the country. He also argues that a system of nuclear deterrence, along the lines of the old Cold War model, would be inappropriate for the Middle East. The book concludes with an analysis of the big powers' antiproliferation policies and the possibilities for nuclear arms control in the region.