Israel's nuclear arsenal made US non-proliferation commitments “ridiculous” (Foreign Policy, 19 ⁠Feb)

“Every U.S. president since Bill Clinton has, at Israeli insistence, signed a secret letter upon entering office” that forbids to mention Israel’s nuclear arsenal. It was not before 17 ⁠Feb that Joe Biden made the usual post-inauguration call to the Israeli PM, because apparently “Biden had not yet signed the letter”.

The decades-old hypocrisy included “pretending in 1979 that what was almost certainly an Israeli nuclear test in the South Indian Ocean, which was observed by a U.S. satellite, didn’t happen”. There is also non-public regulation “described in the U.S. Energy Department’s Classification Bulletin WPN-136 on Foreign Nuclear Capabilities—that threatens government employees with severe punishment if they acknowledge Israel has nuclear weapons”.

foreignpolicy.com/2021/02…

⋯ Israel's nuclear arsenal consists of between 80 and 400 warheads (Wikipedia):

• nuclear-tipped long-range ground-to-ground missiles (French design): Jericho II B, Jericho III...
• nuclear-capable aircraft (U.S. design)
• Dolphin-class submarines (German design) armed with nuclear-tipped long-range cruise missiles.

Personal travel between Syria and Lebanon has officially resumed after COVID-19-related closure.

A PCR test, not older than 96 hours or a vaccination certificate, is needed when crossing the border.

Hamas mourns its martyr, Hamza Ibrahim Shaheen (Abu Muhammad), who rose to the tragic explosion in the Burj Al-Shamali camp in southern Lebanon.

He was the only death that occurred that night.

⋯ A fight occured during the funeral, unclear over what.

Several injuries were hospitalized.

⋯ According to initial local reports, the clashes took place between Hamas and Fatah.

⋯ Mohammed Taha, from a Palestinian scout org, was killed in the clashes earlier.

⋯ Another video from the incident.

There are two deaths. The other casualty is reported to be from Al-Sahili family.

Bennett's visit to UAE is to be through the air corridor over Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia, whose kings are so-called Guardians of Mecca, gave Israel access to its airspace for flights heading to the Gulf, India, and south Asia in general.

The shooter killed 3 civilians & Hamas supporters. RIP ⁠🌹 (Update: the fourth photo is unrelated)

Fatah denies it ambushed Hamas's funeral, and claims an investigation will be opened.

⋯ The head of Hamas's Office for Prisoners, Wounded and Martyrs, Zaher Jabarin, is among those injured as a result of the ambush that took place today inside Burj Al-Shamali Camp, near Tyre (southern Lebanon).

He is in a stable condition.

🇱🇧🇧🇭 Bahrain issued a statement condemning a press conference in Lebanon that involved alleged anti-Bahrain rhetoric, held by Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, a Bahraini opposition group.

Lebanon's PM Mikati then directly issued a statement condemning the press conference, apologizing, and asked to open an investigation to avoid this situation next time.

Lebanon: "The Prime Minister strongly condemns the assault on the Kingdom of Bahrain, its leadership and the people, and refuses to interfere in its internal affairs, and to offend it in any way."

"His Excellency also affirms his refusal to use Lebanon as a platform to offend and insult the Kingdom of Bahrain, just as he refuses to offend the brotherly Arab countries, especially the Gulf Cooperation Council countries."

Israeli media: Israeli officials coordinated with their counterparts in Saudi Arabia about the air transit of Bennett's plane to the UAE through KSA.

Final update: Lebanese Army Intelligence in Tyre received from the Palestinian National Security Command, Muhammad Dahwish nicknamed (Abu Al-Asha), who is accused of shooting at the funeral of Hamza Shaheen in Al-Burj Al-Shamali camp.