Current Events

UC Berkeley's "Conversations with History," host Harry Kreisler welcomes author Avner Cohen for a discussion of his new book The Worst-Kept Secret: Israel's Bargain with the Bomb. Tracing the history of Israel's nuclear weapons program, Cohen explicates Israel's nuclear doctrine of amimut (opacity) analyzing its implications for Israel's democracy and for Israel's international engagement. Though the doctrine made sense in earlier phases of Israel's nuclear program, Cohen argues that in today's post-911 world, it conflicts with the norms of the international system, especially the effort to adapt non-proliferation to the realities of the 21st century. The conversation concludes with an analysis of the threat posed to Israel if Iran succeeds in acquiring nuclear weapons.