ABSTRACT
This chapter questions the strategic expediency of the USA continuing to hold on to Israel's 'nuclear lie' and argues that official US policy of ridding the world of nuclear weapons should also include adopting a non-proliferation posture toward Israel. The clandestine construction of Israel's nuclear power plant near Dimona in the Negev Desert began in 1958, as did the establishment of Israel's nuclear weapons development organization RAFAEL. Israel has recognized the inherent limitations of nuclear power to provide a full spectrum of defense by advancing its mowing-the-grass strategy as a means of perpetuating the status quo against less than existential threats. The need for Israel to possess a means of deterring an existential threat to its survival will always hold a central place in its national security strategy. A successful national security policy demands constant attention to the international environment and a reassessment of threats and opportunities.
