Drawing on newly declassified archives and exclusive interviews, this pioneering study reveals how Israel has managed to maintain a regional nuclear monopoly for over five decades. Or Rabinowitz traces a dramatic evolution in US policy, from the 1981 condemnation of the Osirak raid to the historic joint military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities in 2025. She uncovers startling evidence of a secret 1983 nuclear accommodation between Israel and Pakistan and explores the 'Begin-Rabin equation,' the strategic trade-off between unilateral security and international legitimacy. By cultivating an image as a responsible, norm-abiding actor, Israel secured vital US diplomatic protection for its nuclear posture while gaining acceptance of its counter-proliferation logic. This authoritative narrative is essential for understanding the high-stakes intersection of clandestine diplomacy, intelligence failures, and the enduring nuclear arms race in the Middle East.