Norway document reveals Israel nuke secrets
Swedish TV presents Norwegian document from 1959 according to which Israel turned to Sweden, Canada in attempt to look into joint development of nuclear weapons
In 1957, Israel turned to Sweden and Canada in an attempt to look into a joint development of nuclear weapons, a Norwegian document dated to 1959 has revealed.
The document was presented on a documentary television program on Swedish state television.
The documentary was made before the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Muhammad el-Baradei, who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency. It dealt with Norway’s “contribution” to nuclear proliferation.
According to the program, Norway sold Israel 20 tons of heavy water in 1959. Program makers asked to what extent the Norwegian government knew of the sale, as well as how the heavy water was used in Israel.
The sale of the heavy water was first publicized through nuclear spy Mordechai Vanunu in 1986. Since then, the episode has been the center of dispute. The sale of the water was based on a deal in which Britain, which initially bought the heavy water from Norway to serve the British nuclear weapons program. However, London did not use the water (using instead American fissionable material) and returned it to Norway who sold it to Israel.
Canada turned down Israel’s demand for assistance
In fact, the water was never returned to Norway and was shipped from Britain to Israel.
The secret document quoted in the documentary was penned by former Norwegian Deputy Foreign minister Hans Eigen in January 1959 following talks with Noratom A/S, the company that oversaw the heavy water sale deal with Israel.
Eigen’s handling of negotiations with Israel reflected the Norwegian government’s hesitation before finally approving the sale. And the reasons for Eigen’s hesitation are understandable.
Eigen was aware of initial contacts between Israel, Sweden and Canada in 1957 over nuclear cooperation. Norway was also aware that France was also being approached by Israel for assistance in developing nuclear arms, the documentary said.
Eigen reported that both Sweden and Canada turned down Israel’s demand for assistance, with both countries choosing to develop their own programs.
'Public uproar in Norway'
Eigen also noted that Israel insisted that the deal with Noratom adhere to the same criterions agreed upon with France. Israel demanded that the nuclear deal with France include a section stating that the sale of equipment to make nuclear energy be strictly used for civilian purposes. Israel also requested Norway transfer the heavy water to France which will transfer it to Israel.
Eigen’s 1959 report shows clearly that Norway was aware that the nuclear cooperation between France and Israel went beyond producing nuclear fuel for civilian purposes.
Norway was puzzled by Israel’s eagerness to purchase Norwegian heavy water three times more expensive than the price set by the United States. According to Norwegian estimates, Israel could not agree to the stringent supervision terms set by the Americans as part of the deal.
Noratom’s CEO recalled that Israel was solely interested in purchasing heavy water yet his executives managed to convince Israeli brokers to buy other items.
The striking feature of the document is its ambivalence. Eigen and Norotam’s CEO were aware of Israel’s intentions yet did not dare to make their knowledge public.
Following the 1959 talks with Noratom, Israel’s ambassador to Scandinavian countries Dr. Haim Yakhil signed a deal with deal in Oslo with then-Norwegian Foreign Minister Harvard Langa.
The agreement was similar to the deal with France as it stated that Israel will use the water for peaceful purposes only and ruled out Norway’s right to supervise Israel’s nuclear activities.
Following the Vanunu debacle, public uproar in Norway prompted Oslo to renegotiate the deal with Israel, which agreed to return the heavy water.
