Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
April 27th March for Palestine
As the Israelis continue their reign of terror in the West Bank and Gaza, the people of San Francisco have once again taken to the streets to say "no more". The crimes of the Israeli government can not been swept under the rug by US and Israeli pressure on the UN and arab governments. 50 years of occupation must come to an end.
On April 27th, people gathered at 24th and Mission in San Francisco and marched to UN Plaza in solidarity with the people of Palestine.
Add Your Comments
Comments
(Hide Comments)
Once again, terrorist supporters march under the banners of the swastika and hate.
The banner you are refering to is a banner comparing Israel to Nazi Germany. Even if you find this comparison distasteful it is hard to see how you could find it to be proNazi unless it was also proIsrael.
And if you are a right wing person complaining about this I wonder why you dont take equal offense to the constant comparisons in the media of any US enemy to Hitler and and any state the US doesnt like to the Nazis ("zionazi" may sound weird but so does "feminazi" and I never heard people complain that Limbaughs sexist statements were also antisemetic).
And if you are a right wing person complaining about this I wonder why you dont take equal offense to the constant comparisons in the media of any US enemy to Hitler and and any state the US doesnt like to the Nazis ("zionazi" may sound weird but so does "feminazi" and I never heard people complain that Limbaughs sexist statements were also antisemetic).
If there wasn't an occupation there would not be suicide bombers. 50 years of occupation is hard for people to take, especially when there is no end in sight. The hatred in the region isnt comming from the Palestinians its comming from Israeli policies and US interests in keeping the conflict going to help prop up totalitarian states like Saudi Arabia .
This conflict is not very old and has nothing to do with religion. Jewish and arab people lived together in peace before European Zionists (many of whom were Christain and antisemetic) started settling hundreds and thousands of people in a land that belonged to the Palestinians.
This conflict is not very old and has nothing to do with religion. Jewish and arab people lived together in peace before European Zionists (many of whom were Christain and antisemetic) started settling hundreds and thousands of people in a land that belonged to the Palestinians.
For more information:
http://honestreporting.com
The complicated history of the Arab-Israeli conflict is difficult to transmit in a short newsbyte. Yet Newsweek-MSNBC recently attempted to encapsulate the personal histories of Yasir Arafat and Ariel Sharon in side-by-side chronologies.
The result is a lot of bias packed into 100 words.
Below is the full text of "A Tale of Two Enemies" which appeared in Newsweek (Dec. 17 edition) and on the MSNBC website - http://www.msnbc.com/news/669794.asp#BODY
Newsweek-MSNBC describes Arafat simply as a "revolutionary," a "civil engineer," and a trailblazing diplomat who was the first to be accorded special status at the United Nations.
Yet nowhere is Arafat described as a founder of a terrorist organization, nor is there any mention of his connection to terror acts. In truth, that is Arafat's greatest claim to fame. He invented modern terrorism, and trained and served as a model for dozens of other terrorist organizations. Arafat's Fatah and PLO were responsible for thousands of deaths, airplane hijackings, bombings, mass murders -- and some of the most infamous terrorist outrages including the execution of American and Belgian diplomats, the Munich Olympics massacre, the Achilles Lauro hijacking, and mass murder attacks on civilians in Lod Airport, Ma'alot, Kiryat Shemone and more.
Newsweek-MSNBC further mentions that the PLO was "created to liberate Palestine." In fact, when Arafat joined the PLO in 1964, the West Bank and Gaza were fully in Arab hands, and the PLO's primary goal (as expressly stated in its covenant) was the annihilation of Israel.
* * *
By contrast, how does Newsweek-MSNBC describe Ariel Sharon?
Sharon is "aggressive" and "ruthless." He headed "Israel's invasion of Lebanon that kills 2,000 Palestinian refugees."
Is there really such a direct correlation between Sharon and the slaughter of Palestinians, as Newsweek-MSNBC implies? Newsweek-MSNBC should recall that Time Magazine got into legal hot water for making similar allegations against Sharon.
In truth, an official Israeli commission of inquiry absolved Sharon of direct responsibility for the deaths of refugees in Sabra and Shatilla. And Lebanese who served as agents of Syria at the time have recently admitted that Sharon and Israel were "set up" by Syria.
Further, Newsweek-MSNBC asserts that Sharon visited "Al Aqsa Mosque, sparking the second Palestinian intifada."
In fact, Sharon never visited the Al Aqsa Mosque; he toured the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif, but the mosques were not part of his visit. Furthermore, it is now common knowledge that Arafat planned his new war prior to Sharon's visit, as Al-Ayyam, the Palestinian Authority daily newspaper reported (December 6, 2000):
"Speaking at a symposium in Gaza, Palestinian Minister of Communications Imad el-Falouji confirmed that the Palestinian Authority had began preparations for the outbreak of the current intifada from the moment the Camp David talks concluded, this in accordance with instructions given by Chairman Arafat himself."
If you find the Newsweek-MSNBC item biased, write to:
letters [at] newsweek.com
world [at] msnbc.com
The most effective method is to write a letter in your own words. Otherwise, use the points above as a basis.
Thank you for your ongoing involvement in the battle against media bias.
HonestReporting.com
====== TEXT OF NEWSWEEK/MSNBC REPORT =======
ARAFAT AND SHARON: A TALE OF TWO ENEMIES
Dating from Arafat's earliest days as a guerrilla fighter in the Palestinian movement and Sharon's controversial history as an aggressive commander in a series of Israeli wars with the Arabs, the two leaders seem to have been heading for a final confrontation.
* * *
YASIR ARAFAT
1929: Born in Egypt. At 16 he starts smuggling arms to Palestine for use against the British and the Jews.
1948: Leaves school briefly to fight in Gaza during Arab-Israeli conflict.
1956-58: Graduates as a civil engineer. Settles in Kuwait. Forms Al Fatah with friends.
1964: Leaves Kuwait to be a revolutionary. Fatah joins PLO, a new umbrella group created to liberate Palestine.
1969: Named PLO chairman.
1974: Addresses U.N. General Assembly-the first time a non-head of state is invited.
1993: Holds secret peace talks with Yitzhak Rabin in Oslo.
1996-2000: Continues talks with Israel, but turns down Clinton-Barak peace plan.
* * *
ARIEL SHARON
1928: Born in Palestine.
1948-49: Heads an infantry in Israel's War of Independence.
1956-67: Fights in Sinai campaign and later in Six Day War; noticed for his military ability and ruthlessness.
1972-73: Leaves the Army for politics. Helps form Likud.
1981-82: Named Defense minister to Menachem Begin. Heads Israel's invasion of Lebanon that kills 2,000 Palestinian refugees.
1990: Speeds buildup of settlements in Palestinian territory as minister of Construction and Housing.
1998: Holds peace talks with Arafat as foreign minister.
2000: Visits Al Aqsa Mosque, sparking the second Palestinian intifada (uprising).
2001: Elected prime minister.
=== UPDATE ON "NEWSWEEK-MSNBC REWRITES HISTORY" ====
Newsweek online devoted an entire article to public criticism of its piece, "A Tale of Two Enemies," and prominently featured the impact of HonestReporting readers. Here are some excerpts from Newsweek - http://www.msnbc.com/news/676606.asp
Many readers wrote to fault us for identifying Palestine Authority leader Yasir Arafat as a "guerrilla fighter" but not as a terrorist in the Dec. 17 issue's side-by-side comparison with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ("Arafat and Sharon: A Tale of Two Enemies"]. "Mr. Arafat is the engineer behind some of the most notorious terrorist outrages in the modern world," writes a reader from Fortuna, Calif.
The Web site HonestReporting.com took us to task on the issue as well, sending out an "HonestReporting Communique" about the piece to its members on Dec. 19 that prompted a flood of similarly worded e-mails. "Newsweek-MSNBC describes Arafat simply as a 'revolutionary,' a 'civil engineer,' and a trailblazing diplomat who was the first to be accorded special status at the United Nations. Yet nowhere is Arafat described as a founder of a terrorist organization, nor is there any mention of his connection to terror acts. In truth, that is Arafat's greatest claim to fame," states the Web site's e-mail to members.
Meanwhile, Michael Moran of MSNBC.com was a recipient of many complaints from HonestReporting readers regarding the piece "A Tale of Two Enemies.”
Moran responded with two grievances:
1) "I don't work for Newsweek, nor do I have any control over what they write."
Indeed, "A Tale of Two Enemies" originated in Newsweek, but MSNBC has an editorial partnership with Newsweek, and publishes their content indistinguishable from other MSNBC content. In fact, MSNBC is responsible for all content that appears on its website -- whether it originated with Newsweek, Reuters, or wherever. The fact remains that "A Tale of Two Enemies" was published on MSNBC. We don't understand why Moran is trying to scuttle responsibility.
Moran's other grievance was:
2) "I'm being called an anti-Semite by literally hundreds of people, many of them extremely abusive."
HonestReporting joins Moran in decrying the fact that individuals have written e-mails calling him an anti-Semite. HonestReporting does not believe that Moran is an anti-Semite, and never implied it.
HonestReporting reminds all members: When writing letters of complaint, it is important to stick to the facts. Preserve the integrity of the HonestReporting campaign by keeping your comments clean and respectful. Hostile or overly emotional language is counter-productive. This is not the place to vent your frustration.
But certainly there is something more than meets the eye. Moran responded to HonestReporting with such vile hatred and filthy language, that he must be feeling guilty about something. I always learned that in a debate, the one who gets angry first is usually wrong.
Moran has written calling HonestReporting members "extremely abusive... idiots... sc***ed up royally... irresponsible... baseless abuse... poisoned..." He replied to some using the expression "f*** you."
By the way, we are certain that some pro-Palestinians activists sent nasty letters to Moran, trying to give Israel supporters a bad name.
The result is a lot of bias packed into 100 words.
Below is the full text of "A Tale of Two Enemies" which appeared in Newsweek (Dec. 17 edition) and on the MSNBC website - http://www.msnbc.com/news/669794.asp#BODY
Newsweek-MSNBC describes Arafat simply as a "revolutionary," a "civil engineer," and a trailblazing diplomat who was the first to be accorded special status at the United Nations.
Yet nowhere is Arafat described as a founder of a terrorist organization, nor is there any mention of his connection to terror acts. In truth, that is Arafat's greatest claim to fame. He invented modern terrorism, and trained and served as a model for dozens of other terrorist organizations. Arafat's Fatah and PLO were responsible for thousands of deaths, airplane hijackings, bombings, mass murders -- and some of the most infamous terrorist outrages including the execution of American and Belgian diplomats, the Munich Olympics massacre, the Achilles Lauro hijacking, and mass murder attacks on civilians in Lod Airport, Ma'alot, Kiryat Shemone and more.
Newsweek-MSNBC further mentions that the PLO was "created to liberate Palestine." In fact, when Arafat joined the PLO in 1964, the West Bank and Gaza were fully in Arab hands, and the PLO's primary goal (as expressly stated in its covenant) was the annihilation of Israel.
* * *
By contrast, how does Newsweek-MSNBC describe Ariel Sharon?
Sharon is "aggressive" and "ruthless." He headed "Israel's invasion of Lebanon that kills 2,000 Palestinian refugees."
Is there really such a direct correlation between Sharon and the slaughter of Palestinians, as Newsweek-MSNBC implies? Newsweek-MSNBC should recall that Time Magazine got into legal hot water for making similar allegations against Sharon.
In truth, an official Israeli commission of inquiry absolved Sharon of direct responsibility for the deaths of refugees in Sabra and Shatilla. And Lebanese who served as agents of Syria at the time have recently admitted that Sharon and Israel were "set up" by Syria.
Further, Newsweek-MSNBC asserts that Sharon visited "Al Aqsa Mosque, sparking the second Palestinian intifada."
In fact, Sharon never visited the Al Aqsa Mosque; he toured the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif, but the mosques were not part of his visit. Furthermore, it is now common knowledge that Arafat planned his new war prior to Sharon's visit, as Al-Ayyam, the Palestinian Authority daily newspaper reported (December 6, 2000):
"Speaking at a symposium in Gaza, Palestinian Minister of Communications Imad el-Falouji confirmed that the Palestinian Authority had began preparations for the outbreak of the current intifada from the moment the Camp David talks concluded, this in accordance with instructions given by Chairman Arafat himself."
If you find the Newsweek-MSNBC item biased, write to:
letters [at] newsweek.com
world [at] msnbc.com
The most effective method is to write a letter in your own words. Otherwise, use the points above as a basis.
Thank you for your ongoing involvement in the battle against media bias.
HonestReporting.com
====== TEXT OF NEWSWEEK/MSNBC REPORT =======
ARAFAT AND SHARON: A TALE OF TWO ENEMIES
Dating from Arafat's earliest days as a guerrilla fighter in the Palestinian movement and Sharon's controversial history as an aggressive commander in a series of Israeli wars with the Arabs, the two leaders seem to have been heading for a final confrontation.
* * *
YASIR ARAFAT
1929: Born in Egypt. At 16 he starts smuggling arms to Palestine for use against the British and the Jews.
1948: Leaves school briefly to fight in Gaza during Arab-Israeli conflict.
1956-58: Graduates as a civil engineer. Settles in Kuwait. Forms Al Fatah with friends.
1964: Leaves Kuwait to be a revolutionary. Fatah joins PLO, a new umbrella group created to liberate Palestine.
1969: Named PLO chairman.
1974: Addresses U.N. General Assembly-the first time a non-head of state is invited.
1993: Holds secret peace talks with Yitzhak Rabin in Oslo.
1996-2000: Continues talks with Israel, but turns down Clinton-Barak peace plan.
* * *
ARIEL SHARON
1928: Born in Palestine.
1948-49: Heads an infantry in Israel's War of Independence.
1956-67: Fights in Sinai campaign and later in Six Day War; noticed for his military ability and ruthlessness.
1972-73: Leaves the Army for politics. Helps form Likud.
1981-82: Named Defense minister to Menachem Begin. Heads Israel's invasion of Lebanon that kills 2,000 Palestinian refugees.
1990: Speeds buildup of settlements in Palestinian territory as minister of Construction and Housing.
1998: Holds peace talks with Arafat as foreign minister.
2000: Visits Al Aqsa Mosque, sparking the second Palestinian intifada (uprising).
2001: Elected prime minister.
=== UPDATE ON "NEWSWEEK-MSNBC REWRITES HISTORY" ====
Newsweek online devoted an entire article to public criticism of its piece, "A Tale of Two Enemies," and prominently featured the impact of HonestReporting readers. Here are some excerpts from Newsweek - http://www.msnbc.com/news/676606.asp
Many readers wrote to fault us for identifying Palestine Authority leader Yasir Arafat as a "guerrilla fighter" but not as a terrorist in the Dec. 17 issue's side-by-side comparison with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ("Arafat and Sharon: A Tale of Two Enemies"]. "Mr. Arafat is the engineer behind some of the most notorious terrorist outrages in the modern world," writes a reader from Fortuna, Calif.
The Web site HonestReporting.com took us to task on the issue as well, sending out an "HonestReporting Communique" about the piece to its members on Dec. 19 that prompted a flood of similarly worded e-mails. "Newsweek-MSNBC describes Arafat simply as a 'revolutionary,' a 'civil engineer,' and a trailblazing diplomat who was the first to be accorded special status at the United Nations. Yet nowhere is Arafat described as a founder of a terrorist organization, nor is there any mention of his connection to terror acts. In truth, that is Arafat's greatest claim to fame," states the Web site's e-mail to members.
Meanwhile, Michael Moran of MSNBC.com was a recipient of many complaints from HonestReporting readers regarding the piece "A Tale of Two Enemies.”
Moran responded with two grievances:
1) "I don't work for Newsweek, nor do I have any control over what they write."
Indeed, "A Tale of Two Enemies" originated in Newsweek, but MSNBC has an editorial partnership with Newsweek, and publishes their content indistinguishable from other MSNBC content. In fact, MSNBC is responsible for all content that appears on its website -- whether it originated with Newsweek, Reuters, or wherever. The fact remains that "A Tale of Two Enemies" was published on MSNBC. We don't understand why Moran is trying to scuttle responsibility.
Moran's other grievance was:
2) "I'm being called an anti-Semite by literally hundreds of people, many of them extremely abusive."
HonestReporting joins Moran in decrying the fact that individuals have written e-mails calling him an anti-Semite. HonestReporting does not believe that Moran is an anti-Semite, and never implied it.
HonestReporting reminds all members: When writing letters of complaint, it is important to stick to the facts. Preserve the integrity of the HonestReporting campaign by keeping your comments clean and respectful. Hostile or overly emotional language is counter-productive. This is not the place to vent your frustration.
But certainly there is something more than meets the eye. Moran responded to HonestReporting with such vile hatred and filthy language, that he must be feeling guilty about something. I always learned that in a debate, the one who gets angry first is usually wrong.
Moran has written calling HonestReporting members "extremely abusive... idiots... sc***ed up royally... irresponsible... baseless abuse... poisoned..." He replied to some using the expression "f*** you."
By the way, we are certain that some pro-Palestinians activists sent nasty letters to Moran, trying to give Israel supporters a bad name.
The name of the game is always money and in the Middle East, it is oil. Israel is a US military base to protect US oil profits in the Middle East. The Zionists are Nazi and imperialist collaborators and Israel is now a death-trap for Jews. The latest "suicide bomber" once again as the pendulum swings in favor of peace shows that the "suicide bombers" are agent provocateurs, most likely Israel's favorite agents, Hamas. There are no coincidences, and we must always ask the question, who benefits? Only US imperialism and the Zionists benefit from "suicide bombers." They occur everytime the winds start blowing in favor of peace. We must scream loudly, "Agent provocateur."
The State of Israel was created by terrorists, Ariel Sharon among them, by murdering Arabs at Deir Yassin so as to force the evacuation of 750,000 Palestinians from their land to establish the US oil puppet, Israel, for which we pay $14 million a day while we have no housing, schools, medical care, public transportation and social services. The military budget is literally killing us. We cannot have guns and butter.
Independent Media does not exist for reprints of the bourgeois press. We all read it when we must but do not appreciate it here at all. It is certainly no authority on anything. The entire capitalist press is pro-Israel by definition, as they support oil imperialism.
We need a labor movement to put an end to this madness. One wonders how long people will put up with all this garbage, all the misery in this society.
The State of Israel was created by terrorists, Ariel Sharon among them, by murdering Arabs at Deir Yassin so as to force the evacuation of 750,000 Palestinians from their land to establish the US oil puppet, Israel, for which we pay $14 million a day while we have no housing, schools, medical care, public transportation and social services. The military budget is literally killing us. We cannot have guns and butter.
Independent Media does not exist for reprints of the bourgeois press. We all read it when we must but do not appreciate it here at all. It is certainly no authority on anything. The entire capitalist press is pro-Israel by definition, as they support oil imperialism.
We need a labor movement to put an end to this madness. One wonders how long people will put up with all this garbage, all the misery in this society.
"Only US imperialism and the Zionists benefit from 'suicide bombers.' "
You mean to say that only palestinians benefit from IDF incursions into palestinian towns, didn't you?
or, only Iraqi children benefit from UN ambargo on Iraq.
face it - the palestinians are animals, the absolute Indisputable truth is that palestinian terror attacks has started while peace was underway in Yizhak Rabin's administration, and long before the Israelis had to stand up and protect themselves from palestinian aggression.
You mean to say that only palestinians benefit from IDF incursions into palestinian towns, didn't you?
or, only Iraqi children benefit from UN ambargo on Iraq.
face it - the palestinians are animals, the absolute Indisputable truth is that palestinian terror attacks has started while peace was underway in Yizhak Rabin's administration, and long before the Israelis had to stand up and protect themselves from palestinian aggression.
Israel
Weapons of Mass Destruction Capabilities and Programs1
Nuclear2 Sophisticated nuclear weapons program with an estimated 100-200 weapons, which can be delivered by ballistic missiles or aircraft.
Nuclear arsenal may include thermonuclear weapons.
150MW heavy water reactor and plutonium reprocessing facility at Dimona, which are not under IAEA safeguards.
IRR-1 5MW research reactor at Soreq, under IAEA safeguards.
Not a signatory of the NPT; signed the CTBT on 9/25/96.
Chemical3 Active weapons program, but not believed to have deployed chemical warheads on ballistic missiles.
Production capability for mustard and nerve agents.
Signed the CWC on 1/13/93, currently debating its ratification.
Biological4 Production capability and extensive research reportedly conducted at the Biological Research Institute in Ness Ziona.
No publicly confirmed evidence of production.
Not a signatory of the BTWC.
Ballistic missiles5 Approximately 50 Jericho-2 missiles with 1,500km range and 1,000kg payload, nuclear warheads may be stored in close proximity.
Approximately 50 Jericho-1 missiles with 500km range and 500kg payload.
MGM-52 Lance missiles with 130km range and 450kg payload..
Shavit space launch vehicle (SLV) with 4,500km range and 150kg to 250kg payload.
Unconfirmed reports of Jericho-3 program under development using Shavit technologies, with a range up to 4,800km and 1000kg payload.
Developing Next (Shavit upgrade) SLV with unknown range and 300-500kg payload.
Cruise missiles6 Harpy lethal unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with 500km range and unknown payload.
Delilah/STAR-1 UAV with 400km range and 50kg payload.
Gabriel-4 anti-ship cruise missile with 200km range and 500kg payload.
Harpoon anti-ship cruise missile with 120km range and 220kg payload.
Other delivery systems7 Fighter and ground-attack aircraft incllude: 2 F-15I, 6 F-15D, 18 F-15C, 2 F-15B, 36 F-15A, 54 F-16D, 76 F-16C, 8 F-16B, 67 F-16A, 50 F-4E-2000, 25 F-4E, 20 Kfir C7, and 50 A-4N.
Ground systems include artillery and rocket launchers. Also, Popeye-3 land-attack air-launched missile with 350km range and 360kg payload, and Popeye-1 land-attack air-launched missile with 100km range and 395kg payload.
Sources:
This chart summarizes data available from public sources. Precise assessment of a state's capabilities is difficult because most weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs remain secret and cannot be verified independently.
Most public estimates range between 100-200 weapons (e.g., Amy Dockser Marcus, "Growing Dangers: U.S. Drive to Curb Doomsday Weapons In Mideast Is Faltering," Wall Street Journal, 9/6/96, p. A1), but one analyst concludes that "the Israeli nuclear arsenal contains as many as 400 deliverable nuclear and thermonuclear weapons." Harold Hough, "Could Israel's Nuclear Assets Survive A First Strike?" Jane's Intelligence Review, 9/97, p. 410. Israel's nuclear capability is by most accounts quite sophisticated, and may include "intercontinental-range, fractional-orbit-delivered thermonuclear weapons; thermonuclear or boosted nuclear-armed, two-stage, solid-fuel, intermediate-range ballistic missiles with a range of 3,000km; older, less accurate, nuclear-armed, theatre-range, solid-fuel ballistic missiles; air-deliverable, variable-yield, boosted nuclear bombs; artillery-delivered, enhanced-radiation, tactical weapons; and small nuclear demolition charges." Kenneth S. Brower, "A Propensity For Conflict: Potential Scenarios And Outcomes Of War In The Middle East," Jane's Intelligence Review Special Report No. 14, p. 15. See also: Anthony H. Cordesman, "Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East: National Efforts, War Fighting Capabilities, Weapons Lethality, Terrorism, and Arms Control Implications" (Washington, DC: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2/98), p. 19. "Nuclear Forces Guide," Federation of American Scientists, 10/10/97, [Online] http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/israel/facility/index.html. International Atomic Energy Agency, "Situation on 31 December 1996 with respect to the conclusion of safeguards agreements between the Agency and non-nuclear-weapon States in connection with the NPT," [Online] http://www.iaea.or.at/worldatom/program/safeguards/96tables/safenpt.html. Nuclear Engineering International, 1998 World Nuclear Industry Handbook (Essex, UK: Wilmington Publishing Ltd, 1998), p. 114.
Dana Priest, "In U.S. Weapons Crusade, Allies Get Scant Mention," Washington Post, 4/14/98, p. 1. Cordesman p. 18-19. Steve Rodan, "Bitter Choices: Israel's Chemical Dilemma," Jerusalem Post, 8/18/97, [Online] http://www.jpost.co.il. David Makovsky, "Israel Must Ratify Chemical Treaty," Ha'aretz, 1/8/98, [Online] http://www3.haaretz.co.il/eng.
Cordesman, p. 19. "Chemical and Biological Weapons Facilities," Federation of American Scientists, 10/10/97, [Online] http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/israel/facility/cbw.htm. P.R. Kumaraswamy, "Marcus Klingberg and Israel's ‘Biological Option,'" Middle East International, 8/16/96, pp. 21-22. Zafir Rinat, "Nerve Gas Antidote in Works," Ha'aretz, 12/12/97, [Online] http://www3.haaretz.co.il/eng. Edna Homa Hunt, "Israel's Biological and Chemical Research and Development – Potential Menace at Home and Abroad," Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, 4/98, pp. 84, 93. Liat Collins, "Bio Institute to Come Under Close Inspection," Jerusalem Post, 2/19/97, [Online] http://www.jpost.co.il. P.R. Kumaraswamy, "Has Israel Kept its BW Options Open?" Jane's Intelligence Review, 3/98, p. 22.
"Missile and Space Launch Capabilities of Selected Countries," The Nonproliferation Review, forthcoming 1998. Duncan Lennox, ed., "Country Inventory – In Service," "In-Service Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles," "In Service Short-Range Ballistic Missiles," "Shavit," and "Offensive Weapons - Unclassified Projects, Israel," Jane's Strategic Weapons Systems Issue 24, 5/97. Cordesman, p.18. "Missile Master Table: Finland-Japan," Centre for Defence and International Security Studies, [Online] http://www.cdiss.org/master2.htm. Directorate of Space Programs, US Air Force Acquisitions, "Shavit," [Online] http://www.safaq.af.hq.mil/aqs/vehicle/shavit.htm. Pierre Langereux, "Dassault Lifts the Lid on the Jericho Missile Story," Air & Cosmos/Aviation International, no. 1590, 12/6/96, p. 36. Shawn L. Twing, "Israel Seeks US Permission to Launch Rockets from NASA Facility in Virginia," Washington Report On Middle East Affairs, 4-5/97, pp. 29, 85. Tim Furniss, "Satellite Launcher Directory," Flight International, 12/10-16/97, pp. 28-34. Foreign Defense Assistance and Defense Export Organization (SIBAT), Israel's Defense Sales Directory, 1997/98 (Tel Aviv: Ministry of Defense, 1997), p. 84.
Lennox. Cordesman, p. 18. CDISS. Lennox, "Offensive Weapons - Unclassified Projects, Israel." SIBAT, pp. 53, 55, 57. Israel possesses all three versions of the US-made Harpoon cruise missile, which are designed for launch from ships (AGM 84A), submarines (RGM 84A), and aircraft (UGM 84A).
The Military Balance 1997/98 (London: International Institute for Strategic Studies, 1997), pp. 129-130. Arieh O'Sullivan, "New F-15I Warplanes Extend Israel's Reach," The Jerusalem Post [Online] http://www.jpost.co.il/. Ze'ev Schiff, "F-15Is Are Not The Complete Answer To The Iran Threat," Ha'aretz, 1/20/98, [Online] http://www3.haaretz.co.il/.
Prepared by Michael Barletta and Erik Jorgensen,
© Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies.
Weapons of Mass Destruction Capabilities and Programs1
Nuclear2 Sophisticated nuclear weapons program with an estimated 100-200 weapons, which can be delivered by ballistic missiles or aircraft.
Nuclear arsenal may include thermonuclear weapons.
150MW heavy water reactor and plutonium reprocessing facility at Dimona, which are not under IAEA safeguards.
IRR-1 5MW research reactor at Soreq, under IAEA safeguards.
Not a signatory of the NPT; signed the CTBT on 9/25/96.
Chemical3 Active weapons program, but not believed to have deployed chemical warheads on ballistic missiles.
Production capability for mustard and nerve agents.
Signed the CWC on 1/13/93, currently debating its ratification.
Biological4 Production capability and extensive research reportedly conducted at the Biological Research Institute in Ness Ziona.
No publicly confirmed evidence of production.
Not a signatory of the BTWC.
Ballistic missiles5 Approximately 50 Jericho-2 missiles with 1,500km range and 1,000kg payload, nuclear warheads may be stored in close proximity.
Approximately 50 Jericho-1 missiles with 500km range and 500kg payload.
MGM-52 Lance missiles with 130km range and 450kg payload..
Shavit space launch vehicle (SLV) with 4,500km range and 150kg to 250kg payload.
Unconfirmed reports of Jericho-3 program under development using Shavit technologies, with a range up to 4,800km and 1000kg payload.
Developing Next (Shavit upgrade) SLV with unknown range and 300-500kg payload.
Cruise missiles6 Harpy lethal unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with 500km range and unknown payload.
Delilah/STAR-1 UAV with 400km range and 50kg payload.
Gabriel-4 anti-ship cruise missile with 200km range and 500kg payload.
Harpoon anti-ship cruise missile with 120km range and 220kg payload.
Other delivery systems7 Fighter and ground-attack aircraft incllude: 2 F-15I, 6 F-15D, 18 F-15C, 2 F-15B, 36 F-15A, 54 F-16D, 76 F-16C, 8 F-16B, 67 F-16A, 50 F-4E-2000, 25 F-4E, 20 Kfir C7, and 50 A-4N.
Ground systems include artillery and rocket launchers. Also, Popeye-3 land-attack air-launched missile with 350km range and 360kg payload, and Popeye-1 land-attack air-launched missile with 100km range and 395kg payload.
Sources:
This chart summarizes data available from public sources. Precise assessment of a state's capabilities is difficult because most weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs remain secret and cannot be verified independently.
Most public estimates range between 100-200 weapons (e.g., Amy Dockser Marcus, "Growing Dangers: U.S. Drive to Curb Doomsday Weapons In Mideast Is Faltering," Wall Street Journal, 9/6/96, p. A1), but one analyst concludes that "the Israeli nuclear arsenal contains as many as 400 deliverable nuclear and thermonuclear weapons." Harold Hough, "Could Israel's Nuclear Assets Survive A First Strike?" Jane's Intelligence Review, 9/97, p. 410. Israel's nuclear capability is by most accounts quite sophisticated, and may include "intercontinental-range, fractional-orbit-delivered thermonuclear weapons; thermonuclear or boosted nuclear-armed, two-stage, solid-fuel, intermediate-range ballistic missiles with a range of 3,000km; older, less accurate, nuclear-armed, theatre-range, solid-fuel ballistic missiles; air-deliverable, variable-yield, boosted nuclear bombs; artillery-delivered, enhanced-radiation, tactical weapons; and small nuclear demolition charges." Kenneth S. Brower, "A Propensity For Conflict: Potential Scenarios And Outcomes Of War In The Middle East," Jane's Intelligence Review Special Report No. 14, p. 15. See also: Anthony H. Cordesman, "Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East: National Efforts, War Fighting Capabilities, Weapons Lethality, Terrorism, and Arms Control Implications" (Washington, DC: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2/98), p. 19. "Nuclear Forces Guide," Federation of American Scientists, 10/10/97, [Online] http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/israel/facility/index.html. International Atomic Energy Agency, "Situation on 31 December 1996 with respect to the conclusion of safeguards agreements between the Agency and non-nuclear-weapon States in connection with the NPT," [Online] http://www.iaea.or.at/worldatom/program/safeguards/96tables/safenpt.html. Nuclear Engineering International, 1998 World Nuclear Industry Handbook (Essex, UK: Wilmington Publishing Ltd, 1998), p. 114.
Dana Priest, "In U.S. Weapons Crusade, Allies Get Scant Mention," Washington Post, 4/14/98, p. 1. Cordesman p. 18-19. Steve Rodan, "Bitter Choices: Israel's Chemical Dilemma," Jerusalem Post, 8/18/97, [Online] http://www.jpost.co.il. David Makovsky, "Israel Must Ratify Chemical Treaty," Ha'aretz, 1/8/98, [Online] http://www3.haaretz.co.il/eng.
Cordesman, p. 19. "Chemical and Biological Weapons Facilities," Federation of American Scientists, 10/10/97, [Online] http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/israel/facility/cbw.htm. P.R. Kumaraswamy, "Marcus Klingberg and Israel's ‘Biological Option,'" Middle East International, 8/16/96, pp. 21-22. Zafir Rinat, "Nerve Gas Antidote in Works," Ha'aretz, 12/12/97, [Online] http://www3.haaretz.co.il/eng. Edna Homa Hunt, "Israel's Biological and Chemical Research and Development – Potential Menace at Home and Abroad," Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, 4/98, pp. 84, 93. Liat Collins, "Bio Institute to Come Under Close Inspection," Jerusalem Post, 2/19/97, [Online] http://www.jpost.co.il. P.R. Kumaraswamy, "Has Israel Kept its BW Options Open?" Jane's Intelligence Review, 3/98, p. 22.
"Missile and Space Launch Capabilities of Selected Countries," The Nonproliferation Review, forthcoming 1998. Duncan Lennox, ed., "Country Inventory – In Service," "In-Service Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles," "In Service Short-Range Ballistic Missiles," "Shavit," and "Offensive Weapons - Unclassified Projects, Israel," Jane's Strategic Weapons Systems Issue 24, 5/97. Cordesman, p.18. "Missile Master Table: Finland-Japan," Centre for Defence and International Security Studies, [Online] http://www.cdiss.org/master2.htm. Directorate of Space Programs, US Air Force Acquisitions, "Shavit," [Online] http://www.safaq.af.hq.mil/aqs/vehicle/shavit.htm. Pierre Langereux, "Dassault Lifts the Lid on the Jericho Missile Story," Air & Cosmos/Aviation International, no. 1590, 12/6/96, p. 36. Shawn L. Twing, "Israel Seeks US Permission to Launch Rockets from NASA Facility in Virginia," Washington Report On Middle East Affairs, 4-5/97, pp. 29, 85. Tim Furniss, "Satellite Launcher Directory," Flight International, 12/10-16/97, pp. 28-34. Foreign Defense Assistance and Defense Export Organization (SIBAT), Israel's Defense Sales Directory, 1997/98 (Tel Aviv: Ministry of Defense, 1997), p. 84.
Lennox. Cordesman, p. 18. CDISS. Lennox, "Offensive Weapons - Unclassified Projects, Israel." SIBAT, pp. 53, 55, 57. Israel possesses all three versions of the US-made Harpoon cruise missile, which are designed for launch from ships (AGM 84A), submarines (RGM 84A), and aircraft (UGM 84A).
The Military Balance 1997/98 (London: International Institute for Strategic Studies, 1997), pp. 129-130. Arieh O'Sullivan, "New F-15I Warplanes Extend Israel's Reach," The Jerusalem Post [Online] http://www.jpost.co.il/. Ze'ev Schiff, "F-15Is Are Not The Complete Answer To The Iran Threat," Ha'aretz, 1/20/98, [Online] http://www3.haaretz.co.il/.
Prepared by Michael Barletta and Erik Jorgensen,
© Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies.
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$230.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network