Israel's Nuclear Program Implicated In US Investigation

According to Institute for Science and International Security researchers U.S. based Israeli company Pelogy violated export regulations.

By Yossi Melman

Published 01:40 15.07.10

Latest update 01:40 15.07.10

Courtesy Of "Haaretz NewsPaper"

Israel's nuclear program has been implicated in an investigation conducted in the United States by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), according to a report published on Wednesday by the researchers of the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS).

	The nuclear power plant in Dimona.
	Photo by: Archive

The investigation began in spring 2010 when the BIS charged Pelogy, a U.S. based company and its Belgian affiliate, with violating U.S. export administration regulations by attempting to export controlled goods to Israel, India, China and South Africa.

According to the investigation, in the case of Israel and India, the goods could have been used to manufacture nuclear weapons and missile programs.

The charges followed a voluntary self-disclosure by the companies.

In the case of Israel, the BIS neither identified the equipment or components purchased in America nor the suspected purchaser of these goods.

No further details have been provided about the case.

It is worth mentioning that in the 1980s, regardless of Jonathan Pollards' espionage activities for Israel, Israeli companies and individuals were involved many cases of technological espionage, steeling U.S. secrets, technology and equipment.

The most outstanding case involved Milco, a U.S. based company owned by Israeli tycoon Arnon Milchan, which bought and shipped equipment with which could have also been used as triggers for nuclear weapons.