According to a report by The Times Of Israel on July 22, 2026, former Israeli defense and foreign minister Avigdor Liberman said Israel should strongly oppose any United States agreement that would permit Saudi Arabia to operate a civilian nuclear program. He argued that such a move could trigger a regional nuclear arms race and create long-term security threats across the Middle East.
Liberman, who leads the hawkish Yisrael Beytenu party and is seeking to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the upcoming elections, described the proposed arrangement as “completely unacceptable” during an interview with the Kan public broadcaster.
Explaining his concerns, Liberman warned that civilian nuclear programs can eventually evolve into military projects. “Every military nuclear program starts off as a civilian program,” he said, pointing to Iran’s nuclear enrichment efforts as an example of how peaceful nuclear activities can develop into broader nuclear ambitions.
He further argued that allowing uranium enrichment within Saudi Arabia would mark a dangerous turning point for the region. “The agreement to allow enrichment on Saudi soil crosses a red line,” he added. “It puts the whole Middle East into an insane nuclear arms race.”
Liberman also expressed concern that any future Saudi nuclear facilities could become strategic targets for Iran during periods of heightened regional tensions, increasing the risk of wider conflict.
While acknowledging the close relationship between Israel and the United States, Liberman stressed that the two allies do not always share identical strategic interests. He urged the Israeli government, along with pro-Israel advocacy organizations such as AIPAC and others, to campaign against the proposed agreement and persuade members of the US Congress to reject it, even if doing so means opposing the position of US President Donald Trump…See_More
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