The World - News from Oct. 7, 1986

Prime Minister Shimon Peres denied what he called a “sensationalist” report describing Israel as the world’s sixth-ranked nuclear power. The report, in the Sunday Times of London, said Israel has stockpiled about 100 atomic weapons in a secret underground factory at Dimona in the Negev. “Israel . . . will not be the first to introduce nuclear weapons into the region,” Peres was quoted as saying at the weekly Cabinet meeting. Israeli officials have acknowledged that there are nuclear research facilities at Dimona, but they have denied or refused to comment on reports that Israel possesses nuclear weapons.