The [[Dimona]] facility, officially known as the Negev Nuclear Research Center, stands as a deeply clandestine and pivotal complex within [[Israel]]'s national security apparatus, nestled in the arid [[Negev Desert]] south of [[Jerusalem]]. Its existence and operations are central to [[Israel]]'s undeclared nuclear weapons program, embodying the nation's commitment to [[The Samson Option (GFE)]], a doctrine of last resort that envisions massive nuclear retaliation in the face of an existential threat. This facility is not merely a research center but a fully operational industrial complex dedicated to the production of weapons-grade plutonium and the development of advanced nuclear armaments. ### History and Construction The genesis of [[Dimona]] can be traced back to the early 1950s, driven by the unwavering vision of [[Israel]]i leaders such as Prime Minister [[David Ben-Gurion]], Defense Minister [[Shimon Peres]], and the brilliant scientist [[Ernst David Bergmann]]. [[Ernst David Bergmann|Bergmann]], often hailed as the "scientific father of the [[Israel]]i bomb," tirelessly championed the pursuit of nuclear capabilities, believing it to be the ultimate guarantor of [[Israel]]'s survival in a hostile region. [[France]] emerged as [[Israel]]'s indispensable partner in this ambitious endeavor, providing critical expertise and resources. [[Israel]]i scientists were granted unprecedented access to [[France|French]] nuclear facilities, including [[Marcoule]] and [[Saclay]], gaining invaluable knowledge and experience. This collaboration culminated in late 1955 when [[David Ben-Gurion|Ben-Gurion]] formally sought [[France|French]] assistance in constructing a large nuclear reactor and a chemical reprocessing plant on [[Israel]]i soil. The agreement was reportedly solidified in the aftermath of the 1956 [[Suez Crisis]], with [[Guy Mollet|French Prime Minister Guy Mollet]] famously declaring, "I owe the bomb to them" [^1]. The [[Saint-Gobain|French]] chemical firm, Saint-Gobain, was subsequently contracted to undertake the construction of the crucial underground reprocessing facility. Groundbreaking for the EL-102 reactor commenced in early 1958, marking the physical manifestation of [[Israel]]'s nuclear aspirations. The remote [[Negev Desert]] site rapidly transformed into a bustling "French boom town," as hundreds of [[France|French]] engineers and technicians, eventually numbering up to 2,500, arrived to oversee and execute the complex construction. The reactor achieved criticality in 1962, demonstrating its capacity to operate at over 70 megawatts (MW), significantly higher than the publicly acknowledged 24 MW. This enhanced operational capacity was vital for producing larger quantities of plutonium, a key ingredient for nuclear weapons. By mid-1964, the underground reprocessing plant, a marvel of engineering with its remote-controlled laboratories and computer-driven machinery, was largely completed and poised to begin extracting weapons-grade plutonium from the reactor's spent uranium fuel rods. This progress continued despite [[Charles de Gaulle|French President Charles de Gaulle]]'s public attempts to distance [[France]] from the project [^2]. The immense financial undertaking of [[Dimona]], estimated to cost billions of dollars, was partially sustained through covert fundraising efforts led by figures like [[Shimon Peres]] and [[Abraham Feinberg]], who solicited contributions from wealthy [[American]] and [[European]] Jews [^2]. ### Operational Details and Facilities (Based on Mordecai Vanunu's Revelations) The intricate workings of [[Dimona]] were brought to light in 1986 through the detailed revelations and photographs provided by [[Mordecai Vanunu]], a former technician at the facility. His disclosures offered an unprecedented glimpse into [[Israel]]'s advanced nuclear capabilities. The complex comprises the main reactor and at least eight other specialized buildings, or Machons, each serving a distinct function in the nuclear fuel cycle. [[Machon 1]] houses the large, silver-domed reactor, a prominent structure 60 feet in diameter, visible even from nearby highways. This heavy-water moderated reactor utilizes uranium fuel rods, which remain within its core for approximately three months. The heavy water coolant is, in turn, cooled by ordinary water flowing through a heat exchanger, generating steam that, unlike in a conventional power plant, is vented directly into the atmosphere, creating a radioactive cloud [^3]. The most sensitive and critical component of [[Dimona]] is [[Machon 2]], the chemical reprocessing plant, informally known as "The Tunnel." This six-level underground facility is where plutonium is meticulously extracted through chemical processes from the highly radioactive spent uranium rods. Operating around the clock for 34 weeks annually, "The Tunnel" is a testament to advanced engineering and stringent security. Within this facility, an observation area in the control room, affectionately dubbed "Golda's Balcony," commemorates [[Golda Meir|Prime Minister Golda Meir]]'s frequent visits during her tenure [^3]. On level five of "The Tunnel," weapons-grade plutonium is precisely molded into hemispheres for warheads within sealed glove boxes, alongside the fabrication of other crucial chemicals like lithium and beryllium. [[Mordecai Vanunu|Vanunu]]'s accounts indicated a steady weekly production of 1.2 kilograms of pure plutonium [^3]. Beyond the core reprocessing functions, other Machons contribute to the overall operation. [[Machon 3]] is responsible for converting lithium-6 into a solid form suitable for nuclear warheads and for processing natural uranium for the reactor. [[Machon 4]] manages the waste treatment processes for the radioactive residues generated by [[Machon 2]]. [[Machon 5]] applies an aluminum coating to the uranium rods, prepared in [[Machon 3]], before their insertion into the reactor. [[Machon 6]] provides essential basic services and power to the entire [[Dimona]] complex. Advanced research and development take place in [[Machon 8]], which notably includes [[Special Unit 840]], where [[Israel]]i scientists pioneered a gas centrifuge method for uranium enrichment. Further enrichment capabilities are housed in [[Machon 9]], a laser-isotope-reprocessing facility. Finally, [[Machon 10]] is dedicated to the chemical isolation of depleted uranium, which is then prepared for military applications or commercial sale [^3]. The facility also includes specialized units for tritium production, with Unit 92 having removed tritium from heavy water since the 1960s, and Unit 93, opened in 1984, focusing on large-scale tritium production. Tritium is a vital component for "boosted" fission weapons and neutron bombs, underscoring [[Israel]]'s pursuit of sophisticated nuclear designs [^3]. ### Security and Secrecy From its inception, [[Dimona]] has been shrouded in an unparalleled veil of secrecy, a testament to [[Israel]]'s determination to conceal its nuclear ambitions. The [[Israel]]i government consistently maintained elaborate cover stories, publicly asserting that the facility was solely dedicated to peaceful purposes such as scientific research, seawater desalinization, or agricultural development [^4]. This narrative was meticulously crafted to deflect international scrutiny. Despite these denials, [[American]] intelligence, particularly through [[U-2 Spy Plane|U-2]] spy plane overflights beginning in the late 1950s, gathered early evidence of the clandestine construction. From 1962 to 1969, [[American]] inspection teams, notably led by [[Floyd L. Culler, Jr.]], conducted scheduled visits to [[Dimona]]. However, these inspections were largely a "whitewash," as [[Israel]] employed sophisticated deception tactics. This included the construction of a false control room, complete with fake panels and measuring devices designed to mimic a 24 MW research reactor, and the use of elaborate camouflage, such as covering bunkers with sod, to mislead inspectors [^5]. The inspections ultimately ceased in 1969 under the [[Nixon Administration]], which implicitly acknowledged [[Israel]]'s nuclear status without public declaration. The protection of [[Dimona]]'s secrets was a paramount concern, leading to the creation of the Office of Special Tasks (later known as [[LAKAM]]), an intelligence agency specifically tasked with this mission. Led by figures like [[Binyamin Blumberg]], [[LAKAM]] agents operated globally, collecting technical information and establishing front companies to acquire high-tech equipment that would otherwise be denied to [[Israel]] due to export controls [^3]. [[Israel]]i security forces maintained constant vigilance, actively monitoring and deterring any attempts at unauthorized photography or infiltration, engaging in a prolonged "cat-and-mouse game" with [[American]] intelligence [^6]. ### Nuclear Arsenal and Testing [[Dimona]]'s operational success paved the way for [[Israel]]'s emergence as a nuclear power. Well-placed [[Israel]]i sources indicate that at least one successful low-yield nuclear test was conducted in an underground cavern in the [[Negev Desert]] during the mid-1960s [^7]. By early 1968, [[Dimona]] had transitioned to full-scale production, manufacturing an estimated 4 to 5 warheads annually. By the time of the [[Yom Kippur War]] in September 1973, [[Israel]]'s nuclear arsenal was believed to comprise at least 20 warheads [^8]. A significant event in [[Israel]]'s nuclear history occurred on September 22, 1979, when [[Israel]], in conjunction with [[South Africa]], conducted a low-yield nuclear test over the [[South Indian Ocean]]. This event was detected by the [[VELA Satellite|U.S. VELA satellite]], providing concrete evidence of [[Israel]]'s nuclear capability [^9]. [[Mordecai Vanunu|Vanunu]]'s later revelations further underscored the sophistication of [[Israel]]'s nuclear program, suggesting its capacity to manufacture advanced thermonuclear weapons, including low-yield neutron bombs [^3]. ### Strategic Significance The existence and output of [[Dimona]] form the bedrock of [[Israel]]'s nuclear deterrent strategy. The facility's continuous production of plutonium and its capability to develop advanced warheads have enabled [[Israel]] to maintain a policy of "strategic ambiguity" regarding its nuclear capabilities. This deliberate lack of official confirmation, coupled with the implied threat of a nuclear arsenal, serves to enhance [[Israel]]'s perceived security in a volatile and often hostile region. The [[The Samson Option (GFE)]], deeply intertwined with [[Dimona]]'s capabilities, represents [[Israel]]'s ultimate assurance against existential threats, a powerful and silent guarantor of its survival. ### Footnotes [^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991, Chapter 3. [^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991, Chapter 5. [^3]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991, Chapter 15. [^4]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991, Chapter 6. [^5]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991, Chapter 8. [^6]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991, Chapter 4. [^7]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991, Chapter 10. [^8]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991, Chapter 13. [^9]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991, Chapter 20.