JERUSALEM: President Shimon Peres, considered the father of Israel’s nuclear programme, yesterday sought to justify the policy of ambiguity his country has adopted concerning the issue.
On Iran, Peres said newly elected President Hassan Rowhani represented a “chance”, in contrast with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence the moderate leader was a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”.
“Its a chance, undecided yet,” Peres, whose role is largely ceremonial, told the France 24 television network.
“Apparently there are differences within Iran (over its nuclear programme); who is going to win I don’t know.”
Foreign experts say Israel has at least 100 nuclear warheads, but the Jewish state — which has not signed up to the Non-Proliferation Treaty —has never confirmed nor denied this.
Peres defended Israel’s ambiguity on its own nuclear capabilities, saying it was a policy that acted as a deterrent. “It depends why you want nuclear weapons. For me a nuclear option was an instrument to lead to peace, not to attack,” said the Israeli president. “It was a deterrence that had nothing to do with reality whether we have it or not.
“Fantasy plays an extremely great role to increase the deterrence, so it is ambiguous, yes. Why should I clarify?”
AFP
