Description

Copyright infringement not intended

Picture Courtesy: TIMESNOWNEWS

Context:

The "Samson Option" has been frequently mentioned in the news in the context of the Israel-Iran War.

About Samson Option

The Samson Option is a doctrine of massive nuclear retaliation if the state of Israel faces imminent destruction from a military attack.

The name comes from the biblical story of Samson, an Israelite judge who was captured and blinded by his enemies, the Philistines. In a final act, he pushed apart the pillars of the temple he was in, bringing it down and killing himself along with his thousands of enemies.

The term was popularized by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh in his 1991 book, The Samson Option.

Israel's Policy of "Amimut" (Deliberate Ambiguity)

A key element related to the Samson Option is Israel's long-standing policy of nuclear ambiguity, or Amimut in Hebrew.

No Confirmation, No Denial => Israel has never officially confirmed that it possesses nuclear weapons, nor has it denied it. This policy creates strategic uncertainty for its adversaries.

Estimated Arsenal => Despite the official ambiguity, foreign intelligence agencies and analysts widely believe Israel possesses a significant nuclear arsenal. Estimates range from 80 to 400 nuclear warheads.

Delivery Systems (The Nuclear Triad) => Israel is believed to have a "nuclear triad," meaning it can deliver nuclear weapons from land, air, and sea:

Land: Jericho series of ballistic missiles.
Air: Fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear bombs.
Sea: Submarines reportedly armed with nuclear-tipped cruise missiles, ensuring a second-strike capability (the ability to retaliate even after suffering a devastating first attack).

The doctrine implies that nuclear weapons could be used as a last resort against a non-nuclear state or coalition of states if they launched an overwhelming conventional attack.

For Israel, a small country with a lack of strategic depth (narrow territory), the Samson Option is seen as the ultimate guarantee of its survival in a historically hostile region.

Comparison with India's Nuclear Doctrine

Must Read Articles:

The Iran-Israel Conflict & Impact

Israel-Iran Strike Regional Tension

Source:

TIMESNOWNEWS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. What is the core principle of the "Samson Option"?

A) A strategy for a pre-emptive nuclear first strike against an adversary.

B) A doctrine of massive nuclear retaliation as a last resort against an existential threat.

C) A conventional military plan to be used in regional conflicts.

D) A policy of officially declaring nuclear assets to deter attacks.

Answer: B

Explanation:

The "Samson Option" refers to Israel’s strategic doctrine of using overwhelming nuclear force only if the country faces existential danger—when its existence is seriously threatened by an aggressor. In that scenario, Israel would respond with massive nuclear retaliation, even if it means massive destruction in return.