New York Times review Avner Cohen’s The Worst-Kept Secret

In the conclusion of his review in the New York Times, Ethan Bronner calls The Worst-Kept Secret: Israel’s Bargain with the Bomb, “thoughtful, measured and deep, and very much worthy of wide consideration.”

Bronner praises Avner Cohen for his analysis of Israel’s nuclear program as well for the ways in which it affects Israel society. Cohen, who supported Israel’s decision to develop a bomb as well as its policy of not admitting to having nuclear weapons, now views it is a hindrance. Bronner writes:

Mr. Cohen delves deeply into the Israeli psyche as he analyzes — and debates — the reign of nuclear ambiguity. He argues that the bomb represents for the Jewish people the link between shoah and tekumah, that is between the Nazi holocaust and national revival through the creation of the State of Israel. Nuclear weapons are the embodiment of “never again,” Israel’s unofficial motto.

Mr. Cohen views the development of the bomb as wise and considers the early years of opacity successful. But he says it’s time for a new policy. The current level of secrecy is a betrayal of Israel’s democratic values, he argues, and in a world faced with Iran’s profession of peaceful purpose for its nuclear program, Israel’s honesty and reliability should not be open to question.

For more on the book, you can read its epilogue or browse the book via Google Preview.