Olmert Admits Israel Has Nuclear Weapons

Most people who keep up with world affairs have believed for years now that Israel possesses nuclear weapons. They are routinely included on lists of countries that have the nuclear bomb. But Israeli officials have always refused to confirm or deny their possession of these weapons.

However, it looks like Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert blundered on Monday during a visit to Germany, and admitted the obvious -- that Israel is a nuclear power.

In an interview on German television, Olmert was asked if Israel's alleged nuclear program weakened the case against Iran's nuclear program. He replied, "Iran, openly, explicitly and publicly threatens to wipe Israel off the map. Can you say that this is the same level, when they are aspiring to have nuclear weapons, as America, France, Israel, Russia?"

Of course, the Israeli government was quick to deny that Olmert had actually admitted that Israel had nuclear weapons. Olmert's own spokesman said Olmert did not mean to say that Israel had, or aspired to have nuclear weapons. But the cat is now out of the bag.

Olmert may not have intended to admit the fact, but his words are very clear. The world's assumption for the last few years is true -- Israel does have nuclear weapons.

Although I have believed for a while now that Israel does have the nuclear bomb, it does not make me feel any better to have Olmert verify it, especially since Israel is known for its unilateral actions in defiance of U.N. resolutions and world opinion.

It would be better if no country had nuclear weapons in the Middle East, but that time has long since passed. Israel has nuclear weapons, and Iran is not far from having them.

The situation was bad enough when only the United States, Russia, Great Britain, France and China had the nuclear bomb. It got worse when India and Pakistan became nuclear powers. But the doomsday clock moves very close to midnight, when the warring nations of the Middle East become nuclear powers.

We live in very dangerous times.