IJEl LASSIFJED Authority N 12'3 aq k S - - ✓ 5010-107 · 'Nllt U i1ATES GOVERNMENT lJlemorandum TO NEA - Mr Talbot FROM NE I This document consists of 2 pages No of Copies_ Series A - EXCLUSI c TRIBUTION DATE October 2 1964 - Rodger P Davies Israel's Request to Defer Inspection of the Dimona Reactor Your Meeting with Governor Harriman Today at 11 a nrr Problem f 2 Sf SUBJECT 1 3 Mr Bundy on October 23 has requested recommendations on Prime Minister Eshkol 1 s appeal to the President to defer our next inspection of the Dimona Reactor until after the November 1965 Parliamentary elections in Israel Tab A Analysts from AEC CIA and the Department have concluded that Israel in the period between the last inspection of Dimona in January 1964 and January 1 1966 could produce 6 to 12 kgs of plutonium from fuel elements fabricated by the Israelis themselves This would be enough to provide material for one or two test devices Available information strongly reinforces the inspection team's recommendation for an inspection this year Tab B Discussion 1 t The pretexts so far given to delay the proposed inspection seem flimsy I Mr Eshkol was indisposed because of his eye operation he cited domestic political problems but promised a firm date by November 1 through private channels he has asked for postponement of the inspection until after the November 1965 elections Past experience however indicates a request for inspection at that time would not produce results until at least January 1 1966 2 ' Since neither the U S nof' Israeli observers believe domestic political problems in Israel pose a serious threat to the leadership of the Prime Minister Tab C his request must be viewed in the context of Israel's conviction that maximum effective security measures are vital to its survival I 3 The pattern of Israel's activity before each U S inspection of Dimona suggests the use of Israeli acquiescence usually as a lever to obtain U S concessions The first two inspections in May 1961 and September 1962 occurred when Israel was seeking U S support for its diversion of Jordan waters and approval for acquisition of Hawk missiles Israel agreed o the third inspection in January 1964 when it was pressing hard for U S tanks This pattern suggests that the effort to defer the next inspection might relate t Israel's nterest i n - of U S C4 1 E 1 -I € EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION Buy U S Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan f P Ul l_ LA SS11'1ED Authority Nfo p S 85 7 S- SECRET EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION - 2 v combat aircraft and ground-to-ground missiles 1 _ 4 Since Israel has contracted with France to acquire ground-to-ground missiles Prime Minister Eshkol's appeal may be related to a decision to develop in secret a nuclear weapons capability Neither Ben-Gurion nor Eshkol have ruled out the possibility of Israel's embarking on a nuclear weapons program 5 In view of the fact that a Israel has the technical capability b the Israelis were building fuel preparation facilities well in excess of no research requirements when inspected in January 1964 c the Dimona facility has been secretly expanded d French technicians whose presence provided a measure of safeguard we believe have all left e Israel has purchased 100 tons of yellow cake uranium oxide from Argentina but not covered by IAEA safeguards and£ in the view of our experts Israel could produce a nuclear device within about three years we believe it imperative to press Mr Eshkol prefer-ably before November V 3 to set a date for inspection in the near future We believe it important to demonstrate to him that our concern about nuclear proliferation transcends domestic political considerations Failure to do so will encourage the Prime Minister to use his own domestic political problems as justification for resisting pressures piounted after our election El to set an inspection date before November 19 6 Recommendation 1 That you strongly support informing the Israelis prior to November 3 1964 that the U S Government wishes Israel to comply with its commitment for an inspection every six months 2 That it be made clear that failure to accede to our inspection request could bring into question existing U S military and economic aid commitments to Israel NEA NE HERussell RPDavies av SECRET EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION NATIONAL SECURITY ARCHIVE This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu Read related article Duplicity Deception and Self-Deception Israel the United States and the Dimona Inspections 1964-65 2020-11-03