UN nuclear assembly rejects Arab bid criticizing Israel's 'atomic arsenal'

[Jefferson23]

Three-month long Israeli diplomatic campaign foils Arab League proposal calling on Israel to join global anti-nuclear weapons pact.

By Barak Ravid | Sep. 25, 2014 | 9:46 PM

Member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency rejected a resolution initiated by Arab League nations criticizing Israel's alleged nuclear abilities.

The resolution, which is non-binding, condemns Israel, calls on it to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and make its nuclear facilities subject to international supervision. Fifty-eight countries voted against the text and 45 states for. The representatives of many nations chose not to attend the vote.

A senior official in the Foreign Ministry noted that Arab League nations decided this year to make a special effort in order to pass the resolution, which was rejected last year as well. The main reason for which is the ongoing negotiations between Israel and Arab states, brokered by Finland's deputy foreign minister, aimed at convening a summit for a nuke-free Middle East.

During the five rounds of negotiations held in Switzerland, Israel presented a series of preconditions for opening multi-lateral talks over regional peace in the Middle East. Though Western states accepted the Israeli initiative, viewing it as a sound base for negotiations, the Arab states dismissed the preconditions out of hand, refused to discuss the matter further and started pushing forward the resolution condemning Israel for its alleged nuclear arsenal.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.617755