2013 Briefing Book - Print Version - Aipac

ISRAEL AT RISK
The Nuclear Threat
The spreading pursuit of nuclear programs by Mideast states could pose
an existential threat to Israel, while harming other important American
interests and devastating the international non-proliferation regime.
KEY POINTS
• Iran, whose leaders regularly call for the destruction of the Jewish state, is aggressively
pursuing a nuclear weapons capability.
• Syria, which has threatened attacks against Israel, has been caught developing its own
clandestine nuclear program.
• Both Iran and Syria have pursued nuclear programs in violation of their Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty (NPT) commitments.
• Iran’s illicit actions will likely unleash a Middle East nuclear arms race, which could signal the
end of the NPT and the theoretical hope of eliminating nuclear weapons.
• As more nations acquire nuclear capabilities, the risk increases that a state will use these
weapons—either by design or miscalculation.
• A nuclear crisis in the Middle East would affect the safety of Americans and put America’s
energy supply at risk.
The Important Role That Congress Can Play
Congress must do all it can to prevent rogue regimes like Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapons
capability. Congress should ensure the strict enforcement of sanctions against nations that
maintain illicit nuclear weapons programs, because these sanctions may persuade such regimes
to abandon their pursuit of nuclear arms. Congress must also punish entities illegally trading
sensitive technologies and ensure the close safeguarding of the materials needed to build nuclear
arms. Congress should limit proliferation risks and strive to ensure that any additional nations
establishing nuclear programs for civilian energy uses demonstrably guarantee the peaceful nature
of their programs.
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