---
born: 1920-01-31
category: Nuclear Scientists & Programs
died: 2001-10-31
location: Webster, Massachusetts
summary: Assistant Secretary of Defense who pressured Israel to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation
  Treaty and directly confronted Israel about its nuclear weapons program.
tags:
- Person
- Nuclear
- Israel
---

Paul C. Warnke served as the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs. He was involved in intense pressure on [Israel](/places/israel/) to sign the [NPT](/events/nuclear-nonproliferation-treaty/) in exchange for F-4 fighter jets. Warnke directly questioned [Yitzhak Rabin](/people/yitzhak-rabin/), then [Israel](/places/israel/)'s ambassador to [Washington, D.C.](/places/washington-dc/), about [Israel](/places/israel/)'s nuclear capabilities, stating, "we are shocked at the manner in which you are dealing with us.… You, our close ally, are building nuclear bombs in [Israel](/places/israel/) behind our back."[^1]

[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 14.