Satellite photos show new work at Israel’s secretive nuclear site

New satellite images reveal significant construction activity at Israel’s Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center near Dimona, a site long associated with the country’s clandestine nuclear weapons program. Experts analyzing the images suggest the new facility could either be a heavy water reactor—capable of producing plutonium for nuclear warheads—or a site for assembling nuclear arms. The exact purpose remains uncertain due to Israel’s strict secrecy and refusal to allow international inspections. The construction includes thick concrete walls and multiple underground levels, with no containment dome visible yet, though one could be added later or may not be necessary if Israel is pursuing a dome-less reactor design. The existing Dimona reactor, operational since the 1960s, is well beyond its typical lifespan, increasing the likelihood that the new construction is intended as a replacement. The timing is notable, occurring shortly after Israel and the U.S. targeted Iranian nuclear facilities, including a heavy water reactor. Analysts emphasize Israel’s policy of “nuclear ambiguity,” neither confirming