--- born: 1923-08-02 category: Nuclear Scientists & Programs died: 2016-09-28 location: Wiszniew, Poland summary: Peres's rise to influence began in late 1953, when David Ben-Gurion appointed the then thirty-year-old Shimon Peres as director general of the ministry of defense. tags: - Person - Nuclear - Israel --- [Shimon Peres](/people/shimon-peres/) was a prominent [Israeli](/places/israel/) politician who served as Defense Minister and later as Prime Minister. He was a key figure in [Israel's](/places/israel/) political and military landscape for decades, playing particularly significant roles in the country's nuclear program and various covert operations.[^1] ### Early Career and Nuclear Program Leadership Peres's rise to influence began in late 1953, when [David Ben-Gurion](/people/david-ben-gurion/) appointed the then thirty-year-old [Shimon Peres](/people/shimon-peres/) as director general of the ministry of defense. In this pivotal role, Peres, alongside [Ernst David Bergmann](/people/ernst-david-bergmann/), became instrumental in driving [Israel](/places/israel/)'s nuclear weapons program, which was publicly presented as research for peaceful purposes. Recognizing the financial challenges of such an ambitious undertaking, Peres, Ben-Gurion, and Bergmann sought private financing from wealthy American and European Jews to fund this secret endeavor.[^2] As the architect of [Israel's](/places/israel/) nuclear ambitions, [Peres](/people/shimon-peres/) was effectively the father of [Israel's](/places/israel/) nuclear program in the mid-1950s. Working under [David Ben-Gurion](/people/david-ben-gurion/), he believed that [Israel](/places/israel/) needed nuclear weapons as a deterrent against Arab countries. Understanding the technical requirements, Peres knew that no plutonium weapon could be made without a reprocessing plant, and that its construction was impossible without French commitment.[^2] Peres also insisted on the creation of a new intelligence agency, initially known as the Office of Special Tasks, to provide security for the burgeoning nuclear operation at [Dimona](/places/dimona/). This office, handpicked by Peres and led by [Binyamin Blumberg](/people/binyamin-blumberg/), was bureaucratically placed inside the defense ministry and would later become known as LAKAM.[^3] ### International Nuclear Partnerships Peres's diplomatic efforts proved crucial in securing international support for [Israel](/places/israel/)'s nuclear program. He traveled to [France](/places/france/) to secure assistance for [Israel](/places/israel/)'s nuclear ambitions, and in 1956, he flew to [France](/places/france/) to secure a weapons-grade nuclear reactor and technology for a nuclear bomb from [President Charles de Gaulle](/people/charles-de-gaulle/). Beyond the French connection, Peres also arranged for the sale of high-performance French bombers to [Israel](/places/israel/) in 1955, bypassing diplomatic niceties.[^2] Expanding [Israel](/places/israel/)'s nuclear partnerships further, Peres initiated military cooperation with [South Africa](/places/south-africa/) in 1959. This arrangement involved [South Africa](/places/south-africa/) selling uranium to [Israel](/places/israel/) and later financing parts of [Israel's](/places/israel/) nuclear program, creating a mutually beneficial relationship that would support [Israel](/places/israel/)'s nuclear development for years to come.[^1] ### Controversies and Covert Operations Peres's career was not without scandal. In 1976, a telegram intercepted by [Unit 8200](/organizations/unit-8200/) revealed details of bribes paid by a [Lockheed](/organizations/lockheed-aircraft-company/) representative in [Israel](/places/israel/) to Defense Minister [Peres](/people/shimon-peres/). The sum involved was $3.5 million, deposited in one of [Peres's](/people/shimon-peres/) brother's business accounts in Europe. This damaging information, discovered by [Ari Ben-Menashe](/people/ari-ben-menashe/), was subsequently covered up by [Israeli](/places/israel/) military intelligence superiors.[^1] The 1980s brought new controversies involving arms sales to [Iran](/places/iran/). In 1980, [William J. Casey](/people/william-j-casey/) invited [Peres](/people/shimon-peres/), then [Labor Party](/organizations/labor-party/) leader, to participate in secret meetings concerning arms sales to [Iran](/places/iran/). [Peres](/people/shimon-peres/) secretly met with [Mehdi Karrubi](/people/mehdi-karrubi/) in Madrid, actions that drew sharp criticism when they came to light. When [Menachem Begin](/people/menachem-begin/) learned of this unauthorized diplomacy, he warned [Peres](/people/shimon-peres/) that such actions without government knowledge would be considered treason.[^1] ### Prime Ministerial Tenure and Arms Trading In 1984, [Peres](/people/shimon-peres/) became Prime Minister as part of a bizarre coalition agreement with [Yitzhak Shamir](/people/yitzhak-shamir/) of the [Likud Party](/organizations/likud-party/), where they would share the roles of prime minister and foreign minister. During his tenure as prime minister (1984-1986), [Peres](/people/shimon-peres/) appointed [Amiram Nir](/people/amiram-nir/) as his counterterrorism adviser, a decision that would have significant implications for [Israel](/places/israel/)'s covert operations.[^1] During this period, Peres sought to expand [Israel](/places/israel/)'s involvement in international arms trading. He worked to open a competing arms channel to [Iran](/places/iran/) to gain control over the profitable arms sales and to undermine the [existing intelligence-community channel](/organizations/iran-israel-joint-committee/). This involvement extended to the broader [U.S.](/places/united-states/) policy of arming both [Iran](/places/iran/) and [Iraq](/places/iraq/), with [Peres](/people/shimon-peres/) encouraging Bruce Rappaport to buy military equipment from [Israel](/places/israel/) and divert it to [Iraq](/places/iraq/).[^1] Despite his involvement in these controversial arms dealings, Peres also supported diplomatic initiatives, including the idea of a peace conference with the Palestinians. However, this proposal was blocked by [Yitzhak Shamir](/people/yitzhak-shamir/) and the [Likud Party](/organizations/likud-party/), reflecting the ongoing political tensions within [Israel](/places/israel/)'s coalition government.[^1] ### Later Political Developments The legacy of Peres's covert operations continued to create complications even after his prime ministerial tenure. [Nir's](/people/amiram-nir/) death in 1988 was believed by [Israeli](/places/israel/) intelligence to be a [CIA](/organizations/central-intelligence-agency/) operation to prevent his testimony from embarrassing [Peres](/people/shimon-peres/), [Ronald Reagan](/people/ronald-reagan/), or [George H.W. Bush](/people/george-hw-bush/), highlighting the international ramifications of the arms trading networks Peres had helped establish.[^1] Peres's long political career eventually faced a significant setback in 1992, when he was ousted as leader of the [Labor Party](/organizations/labor-party/) by [Yitzhak Rabin](/people/yitzhak-rabin/), who then replaced [Yitzhak Shamir](/people/yitzhak-shamir/) as prime minister after the national elections, marking the end of an era in [Israeli](/places/israel/) politics.[^1] [^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. _Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network_. TrineDay, 1992. [^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2.