Israel ‘confirms’ atomic arsenal
The timing of Benjamin Netanyahu’s ‘slip of the tongue’ questioned as Middle East tensions rise

Benjamin Netanyahu appears to have accidently confirmed the existence of Israel’s nuclear arsenal after decades of deliberate ambiguity.
In what Reuters described as “apparent slip of the tongue”, Israel’s prime minister labelled his country a nuclear power before correcting himself “with a bashful nod and an embarrassed smile”.
Updating a weekly cabinet meeting on a new subsea gas pipeline, Netanyahu said “the significance of this project is that we are turning Israel into a nuclear power,”, before quickly correcting himself to say “energy power”.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“Israel is widely believed to have an atomic arsenal but has never confirmed or denied that it has nuclear weapons, maintaining a policy of ambiguity for decades,” says the Daily Mail.
Reuters says it represents “a rare blooper from one of Israel’s most polished politicians”, however its timing raised questions about whether it was as innocent a mistake as it first seemed.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is understood to have briefed Israel ahead of time about their plans to kill Iranian general Qasem Suleimani and while the Jerusalem Post notes that Netanyahu has repeatedly stated “that Israel will not be the first country to introduce nuclear weapons to the Middle East”, a reminder of its nuclear capability will not have gone unnoticed.
The Times of Israel cites “foreign reports” which “have put the size of Israel’s nuclear arsenal in the dozens to hundreds of weapons”.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Yahoo News, which describes Israel’s nuclear arsenal as “the worst-kept secret in international relations,” says if Iran “appeared to be on the verge of mating nuclear devices with the systems needed to deliver them, Israel might well consider a preventive nuclear attack”.
“In the case of Iran, we can imagine scenarios in which Israeli planners would no longer deem a conventional attack sufficiently lethal to destroy or delay the Iranian program. In such a scenario, and absent direct intervention from the United States, Israel might well decide to undertake a limited nuclear attack against Iranian facilities” it says.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
-
Lavender marriage grows in generational appeal
In the spotlight Millennials and Gen Z are embracing these unions to combat financial uncertainty and the rollback of LGBTQ+ rights
-
The 5 best zombie TV shows of all time
The Week Recommends For undead aficionados, the age of abundance has truly arrived
-
Magazine solutions - October 10, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - October 10, 2025
-
Netanyahu agrees to Trump’s new Gaza peace plan
Speed Read At President Trump's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, they agreed upon a plan to end Israel’s war in Gaza
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of Taiwan
In the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Israel and the Gaza flotilla
The Explainer Activists fear loss of life after blaming Israel for drone attacks on ships
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdown
IN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
What would happen if Israel lost America’s support?
Today’s big question Loss of US backing could be a ‘catastrophe’ for Israel
-
Gaza genocide: will UN ruling change anything?
Today's Big Question Commission of inquiry’s findings ‘give unprecedented weight’ to genocide claims
-
Why ‘anti-Islam’ bikers are guarding Gaza aid sites
In The Spotlight Members of Infidels MC, who regard themselves as modern Crusaders, among private security guards at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites
-
Has Israel’s Qatar strike scuppered a ceasefire?
Today’s Big Question Netanyahu ‘gambles’ on ‘overwhelming strength’ rather than diplomacy in attack on Hamas negotiation team in Doha