Israeli Officials Sound Alarm Over US-Saudi Nuclear Pact

A proposed U.S.-Saudi nuclear cooperation agreement, which would permit Riyadh to enrich uranium domestically, has drawn sharp warnings from Israeli political figures. Critics contend the deal bypasses regional security concerns and risks triggering a volatile nuclear arms race across the Middle East that could ultimately threaten Israel’s long-term strategic position.

Editorial·July 23, 2026·reads: 1,566

Israeli Officials Sound Alarm Over US-Saudi Nuclear Pact

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett characterized the deal as a serious strategic failure, arguing that authorizing uranium enrichment on Saudi soil effectively lowers the threshold for a regional proliferation crisis. His concerns are shared by former Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who warned that a civilian program could serve as a precursor to military development. Lieberman has urged Israeli leadership to actively lobby the U.S. Congress to block the agreement before it gains formal approval.

Many Israeli officials expected that any nuclear cooperation would be tethered to a broader normalization deal between the two nations. Benny Gantz noted that introducing such capabilities outside a comprehensive regional security alliance undermines Israel’s stability. While supporters of the deal maintain that U.S. oversight will ensure the technology remains strictly for civilian energy, skeptics view the potential for domestic enrichment as an unacceptable gamble that disrupts the existing strategic balance.