---
born: 1906-10-15
category: Nuclear Scientists & Programs
died: 1975-08-12
location: Suwałki, Poland
summary: Pinhas Sapir was an Israeli politician who, along with Levi Eshkol, dominated
  the Israeli budget process for more than fifteen years.
tags:
- Person
- Nuclear
- Israel
---

Pinhas Sapir was an Israeli politician who, along with [Levi Eshkol](/people/levi-eshkol/), dominated the Israeli budget process for more than fifteen years. He was a perennial critic of [Israel](/places/israel/)'s nuclear program, viewing the Egyptian arms buildup as the most compelling argument against investing money at [Dimona](/places/dimona/). Sapir saw a nuclear-armed [Israel](/places/israel/) as financial madness and believed it would only lead to conflicts with the [United States](/places/united-states/) and a lessened flow of American contributions.[^1]

[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 5, 9.