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144-Nation IAEA Conference criticizes Israel on Nuclear Weapons

Friday, 21 September 2007

A 144-nation atomic energy conference criticized Israel Thursday for refusing to put its nuclear program under international purview, with the United States alone in supporting Israel.

Besides Washington, only Israel voted against the resolution, while 53 nations backed it and 47 abstained.

The remaining nations were absent for the highly unusual vote — only the second in the 16 years the issue has been on the agenda of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Up to last year, the resolution on "Application of IAEA Safeguards in the Middle East" had been adopted by consensus, but in 2006, and again this year, Israeli objections forced a vote.

This year, Israel opposed two paragraphs — one calling all nations in the Middle East "not to develop, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons," the other urging nuclear weapons states to "refrain from any action" hindering the establishment of a Mideast zone free of nuclear weapons.

'No interest in consensus'

Both passages were clearly aimed at Israel, which is considered to have nuclear weapons despite its "no tell" policy on the issue. Israel counts on the United States as its chief ally for support — both in the outside world and in forums such as the conference.

Israeli opposition last year was sparked by a separate Arab-sponsored resolution deeming Israel a "nuclear threat" and refusal by its sponsors to withdraw it.

While that resolution was put up for adoption it was not voted on. A similar resolution was being prepared for consideration at the gathering Friday.

A Western diplomat whose country normally is supportive of Israel sought to diminish the negative impact of the vote, pointing out that last year, 98 approved the resolution, with three abstaining and the United States and Israel opposed.

Still, although the conference has no decision-making powers, the lack of consensus reflected deepening tensions in the Middle East.

Evidence that Israel has nuclear arms is overwhelming, much of it based on details and pictures leaked in 1986 by Israeli nuclear technician Mordechai Vanunu. His revelations have been added to by other leaks, research, and by statements made by Israeli leaders that stopped just short of confirming it.

Israel's doctrine of "nuclear ambiguity" — never formally confirming or denying that it has such weapons — is meant to "scare potential enemies from considering an annihilating attack while denying them the rationale for developing their own nuclear deterrent". The Israeli envoy to the IAEA however came under harsh criticism in the agency's General Conference for denying possession of nuclear arms.

Iran called for UN inspectors to be dispatched to verify whether Israel has nuclear weapons, in a heated showdown at a meeting of the UN atomic agency Friday.

The face-off between the two nations came as Arab states condemned Israel for hiding an atomic arsenal, at a general conference of the 144-nation International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.

Iranian envoy Ali Asghar Soltanieh told the conference that IAEA inspectors should be sent "to Israel to verify who is telling the truth."

Israel neither confirms nor denies it has nuclear weapons, but Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had hinted in a German television interview in December 2006 that Israel did in fact have the bomb.

Soltanieh's comments came after Israeli ambassador Israel Michaeli told the conference that Arab speakers' assertions that Olmert had said Israel had nuclear weapons were "lies".

As for Arab condemnation of Israel for failing to sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and accept IAEA safeguard inspections, Michaeli said: "Those who call for the elimination of Israel have no moral standing when they criticise Israeli policies aimed at defending Israel's very existence."

The 50-year-old IAEA's tradition of consensus on decisions has broken down over Middle East issues, with debate now highly politicized.

Iran and the Arab states had Thursday pushed through a resolution calling for a Middle East free of nuclear weapons.

Comments (1)

	1. Written by mokhtar on 27-09-2007 09:03
	the Israely cancer is very easy to find a cure for it.The major cancer makind the hole muslim nations sick,is the muslim rulers,(with the exception of Iran,Syria,Malaysia& 1/2Libanan).& to get rid of this cancer,the Muslim Umma needs a very affective medicine,not found yet,since the parting of the prophet(saaw/a).