Israel TV programme suggests need to investigate Algeria's "nuclear weapons"

Reports in Algeria claim that Israeli television has suggested the need to investigate the North African state’s “nuclear weapons”. In a programme entitled, “Are Algerians making nuclear weapons?” produced by Matti Zohar, the political analyst apparently shed light on Algeria’s nuclear capability and its impact on the region’s stability.

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According to daily newspaper Al Shorouk, Zohar stressed that Algeria has been working on developing a secret nuclear project since 1996, with assistance from China and Argentina. Following the end of agreements with the South Americans, Algeria allegedly signed a nuclear cooperation treaty with South Africa in 2010, with a view to develop a third nuclear reactor with a capacity of 100 megawatts.

Al Shorouk added that Zohar accused the Algerians of hiding a lot of nuclear secrets from the world, noting that the government in Algiers has not informed the International Atomic Energy Agency that it possesses materials used to produce nuclear weapons. Oblivious to the hypocrisy of an Israeli accusing any country of keeping its nuclear capabilities from the international authorities, Zohar went on to say that Algeria refuses to sign the Additional Protocol that enables the IAEA to inspect “suspect” locations at short notice. He also warned against what he called “nuclear wealth” located in Algeria; research and studies reveal that the country’s southern area is full of uranium. This, he said, makes it important for the international community to monitor and address Algerians’ nuclear ambitions so as to preserve regional stability.