Israel has received advanced technology from many nations for a long time, at least from the U.S. I would have been as aggressive in getting my hands on nuclear weapons if I was Israel. No other nation was bourn, and lives under a death sentence. What ever your views about Israel, consider Israel is a democracy. Give me the name of one other middle eastern country that is. Israel had nukes at least prior to the 1973 war because at least one and maybe other A-4 Sky hawks were on the tarmac loaded w/tactical nukes when they thought it was a real possibility they would loose. They were more then capable of protecting themselves, and they make no excuses. I like that though I have often disagreed with certain approaches.