Date

Aug 24, 1977

Description

In August 1977, in light of growing concern about South Africa's nuclear potential, information about Israeli-South African nuclear cooperation motivated Washington to seek assurances from the Israelis that they were not collaborating with South Africa in developing nuclear weapons. Moreover, Washington sought "full and complete information from the Government of Israel on the nature of any Israeli/South African cooperation in the nuclear field."

Source

Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, National Security Adviser Files, NLC-16-108-2-13-9

Document published in following posting(s):

The Vela Incident: South Atlantic Mystery Flash in September 1979 Raised Questions about Nuclear Test

Dec 6, 2016

Telegram from the Department of State to Secretary of State Vance and Multiple Diplomatic Posts Repeating Tel Aviv Embassy Telegram 6330, 24 August 1977, Document 304, U.S. Department of State, Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977-1980: Volume XVI Southern Africa