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The memos and minutes that confirm Israel's nuclear stockpile

This article is more than 13 years old
Documents reveal how then-defence minister Shimon Perez tried to sell South Africa's apartheid government the bomb
Israel documents: South African general says country should get nukes on Jericho missiles
Israel documents: South African general says country should get nukes on Jericho missiles. Photograph: guardian.co.uk

This is the secret memo by South Africa's military chief of staff, General RF Armstrong, asking for nukes on the Jericho missiles. It has been revealed before, but its context was not understood. We now know the memo was the direct result of a meeting between PW Botha and Shimon Peres, and the basis of Botha's demand for nukes. This memo was uncovered by Peter Liberman and published in the Nonproliferation Review.

Declassified memo from General RF Armstrong

Israel documents: Cover page of memo revealing secret nuclear agreement with South Afric
Israel documents: Cover page of memo revealing secret nuclear agreement with South Africa. Photograph: guardian.co.uk

This cover page of an ISSA (ISrael-South Africa agreement) meeting in Pretoria between Israeli and South African officials on 30 June 1975 establishes the presence of General Armstrong, who wrote the nuclear memo.

Minutes of third ISSA meeting, 30/6/1975

Israel documents: Memo showing secret nuclear agreement with South Africa
Israel documents: Memo showing secret nuclear agreement with South Africa, signed by Peres and Botha. Photograph: guardian.co.uk

This document details the another ISSA meeting during which Botha says he needs the 'right payload' and Peres offers it in 'three sizes' (paragraph 10).                                                                     

Minutes from further ISSA meeting

Israel documents: Page 2 states existence of agreement with South Africa is secret
Israel documents: Page 2 states existence of agreement with South Africa is secret. Photograph: guardian.co.uk

This is the cover page and two other pages from the secret military agreement between Israel and South Africa, signed by both Shimon Peres and Botha. Note on page two there is a clause that says the very existence of the agreement is secret. Both men have signed the agreement on page three.

Israel-South Africa agreement

Israel documents: Peres letter to South Africa's apartheid government
Israel documents: Peres letter to SA's apartheid government, speaking of 'common hatred of injustice'. Photograph: guardian.co.uk

In this letter, dated 11 November 1974, Peres says Israel and the South African apartheid government share a "common hatred of injustice" and urges a "close identity of aspirations and interests".

More on this story

More on this story

  • Israeli president denies offering nuclear weapons to apartheid South Africa

  • Israel revelations resonate in global talks on establishing WMD-free zone

  • Revealed: how Israel offered to sell South Africa nuclear weapons

  • Israel and apartheid: a marriage of convenience and military might

  • Israel's nuclear weapons: the end to nods, winks and blind eyes

  • Mordechai Vanunu jailed by Israeli court for unauthorised meetings

  • A responsible nuclear power?

  • Israel's nuclear capability and policy of strategic ambiguity

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