---
born: 1914-11-07
category: Nuclear Scientists & Programs
died: 1992-02-23
location: London, England
summary: Avraham Harman was the Israeli ambassador to the United States.
tags:
- Person
- Nuclear
- Israel
---

Avraham Harman was the Israeli ambassador to the [United States](/places/united-states/). In December 1960, he was called in by [Christian A. Herter](/people/christian-a-herter/), then Secretary of State, for an explanation regarding [Israel](/places/israel/)'s secret nuclear reactor at [Dimona](/places/dimona/). Harman was forewarned by [Shimon Peres](/people/shimon-peres/) and possibly [Mossad](/organizations/mossad/) about the impending public discussion of [Dimona](/places/dimona/), and began working on the cover story that would become [David Ben-Gurion](/people/david-ben-gurion/)'s public stance on the issue.[^1]

[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 6.