National Progress Report: Israel

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The Government of Israel praises the Government of the United States for convening the Washington Nuclear Security Summit. As the process of the Nuclear Security Summit comes full circle – from Washington 2010 to Washington 2016 – Israel believes that the commitments undertaken by the States that have participated in this initiative will further strengthen nuclear security and reduce the potential threat of nuclear terrorism worldwide, arising especially from non-state actors. Israel looks forward to the successful continuation and transition of this process based on the impressive outline reflected in the Action Plans and with the support of the IAEA and of States participating in the NSS.

Israel has in place a comprehensive nuclear security system for the protection of nuclear materials in storage and in use in its nuclear research centers, as well as radiological materials used in R&D, medicine, industry and other sectors. Advanced physical protection measures, human reliability programs, cyber security and material accounting and control in accordance with high international norms, form part of the system. Israel also maintains close cooperation with bilateral and international partners in this regard.

As part of its commitment to global nuclear security, Israel has ratified, in 2012, the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials (CPPNM) and signed the Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT).

Over the two years that have elapsed since The Hague Nuclear Security Summit, Israel has taken the following actions, among others, to strengthen nuclear security:

  • Conducted (May 2014) a joint workshop with the United States on Human Reliability and Countering Insider Threats.
  • Joined (August 2014) the IAEA Response and Assistance Network (RANET) and put its assets at the disposal of states facing a nuclear or radiological emergency as well as participating in periodic response exercises by the IAEA Incident and Emergency Center (IEC).
  • Conducted (November 2014) a large-scale exercise ("Bright Sands") simulating a terrorist attack on a nuclear research reactor. The exercise was attended by a team of international observers, including from regional states and the IAEA.
  • Launched phase II of the Soreq Applied Research Accelerator Facility (SARAF), an innovative accelerator which will replace an HEU-fueled research reactor (IRR-1).
  • Established a national nuclear forensics laboratory at the Soreq Nuclear Research Center (SNRC) to enhance its nuclear forensics capabilities.
  • Took an active part in the IAEA Nuclear Security Guidance Committee (NSGC).
  • Participated in various exercises, workshops and activities by the IAEA, GICNT and the ITWG.
  • Took part (January 2016) in Apex Gold exercise organized by the US.
  • Launched a process to contribute 14 detector systems for the use of the IAEA's Division of Nuclear Security and Member States.
  • Final draft of national procedure regarding combating and intervention in the case of Nuclear Terrorism event was distributed by the Counter Terrorism Bureau in the National Security Council. 
  • Has joined the following gift basket initiatives:
    • Joint statement on the full and universal implementation of the United National Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540
    • Statement on Nuclear Detection Architectures
    • Joint Statement on Sustaining Action to Strengthen Global Nuclear Security
    • Mitigating Insider Threats
    • Joint Statement on Forensics in Nuclear Security
    • Joint Statement on Nuclear Security Training and Support Centres / Centres of Excellence
    • Supporting Nuclear and Radiological Terrorism Preparedness and Response Capabilities
    • 2016 Statement of Activity and Cooperation to Counter Nuclear Smuggling
    • Joint Statement on Strengthening the Security of High Activity Sealed Radioactive Sources

Israel is looking forward to further regional and international efforts to secure nuclear materials and to face the challenge of reducing the threat of nuclear and radiological terrorism. It is Israel's hope that the successful implementation of the commitments undertaken by the participants in this Summit will greatly enhance the prospects for more secure world.