The airlift kept Israel from being forced to use nuclear weapons in 1973.
No telling what might have happened if Israel had stopped the enemy with battlefield nuclear weapons. Golda was crying with joy that she would not have to authorize their use. She would have let loose with them if needed...”Never Again” is not just a cliche, it’s an action plan.
Yes, Israel had a limited number of low-yield nuclear weapons in 1973.
I don't remember the particular book, but I do remember reading that the Israelis communicated to Nixon that they were going down the tubes because of the quantities of first-class Soviet equipment that the Egyptians and Syrians had, and that if things didn't change in a day or two that they were going to nuke the Arabs - EVERYWHERE. Including the Aswan Dam and the Saudi oil fields. Now, this was a book and not tablets handed down from God, but I remember that the author was someone with some high degree of credibility. I don't know that the Israelis would have gone that far, but if you're looking at a second genocide within a generation it isn't too far-fetched to say "screw everyone else if they're doing this or letting it be done to us."