Rep. Joaquin Castro’s recent letter calling on the Trump administration to acknowledge Israel’s nuclear arsenal joins a long history of members of Congress addressing the taboo topic. It is now time to take action and end the official silence.

Israel’s nuclear weapons program was secretly developed with financial and diplomatic support from the West. Its nuclear arsenal, estimated at over 90 warheads, remains a leading driver of conflict across the region.

Palestinians suffer from the effects of Israel’s nuclear-weapons blackmail every day of their lives. In today’s world, nuclear weapons are an essential pillar of imperial control. If imperial control is to be dismantled, then so too must the nuclear arsenals that protect it.

Israel has accused Iran of doing many nefarious things. But the historical record shows that whatever Israel accuses Iran of, it is likely that Israel is already doing it.