Introduction

Normally, students of international law approach the question of a Palestinian State from the standpoints of terrorism,’ self determination and human rights. Although such an approach is altogether reasonable, it is also purposeful to examine the question of Palestinian statehood from the perspectives of Israel’s national security, nuclear strategy, and regional nuclear war. With this in mind, the following article undertakes this second form of examination, thereby adding an essential jurisprudential component to a timely and urgent issue in world politics.

Whether or not a State of Palestine will come into existence in the next several years is no longer problematic. When it does come into being, Israel’s nuclear strategy’ will surely be affected.

And this strategy, in turn, will affect the probability of nuclear war in the Middle East.

What, precisely, are the pertinent connections?

Interestingly, an ironic connection exists between Israel’s posture on Judea/Samaria vs. Palestine and its nuclear strategy, i.e., a “hawkish” position on maintaining control over the remaining territories (the position of Oslo9 opponents) is normally associated with a “dovish” position on nuclear strategy (because, inter alia, Israel has substantially greater strategic depth l” under extant conditions).