Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., October 27, 2008 Tishrei 28, 5769 | | Israel Time: 15:28 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Peres Center Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 08:17 05/10/2008
IAEA passes Mideast resolution amid tensions over Israel
By Reuters
Tags: Arab League, Israel News 

The UN nuclear assembly on Saturday passed a resolution urging all Middle East nations to renounce aspirations to build nuclear bombs in a vote most Arabs boycotted over amendments they felt took pressure off Israel.

The rare vote was 82-0 with 13 abstentions after days of wrangling between Israel and Western nations on one side of the spectrum and between Arab and Islamic states on the other, polarizing a body that normally operates on consensus.

The decision at the annual assembly of the International Atomic Energy Agency was non-binding but highlighted deep tensions over Israel's presumed nuclear might and avoiding of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Advertisement
A similar resolution a year ago passed overwhelmingly last year but with 47 abstentions by Western and developing nations.

To get broader approval this year, sponsor Egypt deleted clauses urging all Middle East nations not to make or test nuclear arms or let them be deployed on their soil, and big nuclear arms powers not to foil such steps.

But efforts to achieve consensus were torpedoed by competing Israeli and Arab additions, which included -- respectively -- urging all regional states to comply with obligations to the NPT and all nations to accede to the global treaty.

Entitled "Application of IAEA safeguards in the Middle East", the resolution also underlined the importance of a - as yet rocky - peace process between Israel and Arabs in establishing a nuclear weapons-free zone (NWFZ) in the region.

Arab Walkout

Almost all Arab League states stalked out of the Vienna assembly hall before the vote over Israeli-sponsored amendments pushed through by Western states in paragraph-by-paragraph votes earlier, changes the Arab felt weakened the measure.

"How could we approve a call on us all to obey our international obligations when Israel itself refuses to adhere to any non-proliferation standards. This undermines the IAEA's credibility?" one Arab diplomat told Reuters.

Other diplomats on both side spoke of an unprecedented poisoning of the atmosphere, lack of trust and double-dealing in negotiations at an IAEA gathering.

"It has been a circus, the worst conference in the history of the IAEA. I've never seen such animosity. But it reflects the unilateral character of the age we are living in, plus the lack of a true peace process," said a European diplomat.

Approving the resolution were all European states, a handful of Asian, Latin American and African countries plus Iran and Egypt from the Islamic world. Abstainers included Israel, its chief ally the United States, and Syria.

Iran and Syria are under IAEA investigation over suspicions of covert ambitions to make atom bombs. They deny such intent.

Israel is widely assumed to have the Middle East's only nuclear arsenal, though it has never confirmed or denied it.

Israel has said that while a NWFZ was a commendable ideal, it is not feasible as long as some Arab neighbors continue to refuse to recognize the Jewish state, with Islamist Iran openly calling for its elimination.

Arab diplomats point to a chronic imbalance of power in the Middle East caused by Israeli might and say it breeds instability and spurs others to seek mass-destruction weaponry.

Related articles:
  • Israel slams fresh Arab move to isolate it at IAEA
  • Despite new UN resolution, Iran to continue uranium enrichment
  • IAEA chief brushes off concern over Arab nuclear development
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    New anti-Semitism?
    German economist equates criticism of bankers with 1930s scapegoating of Jews.
    Playing with fire
    Hebrew University study shows humans made fire as early as 790,000 years ago.
      1.   Israel should have the right to posess nuclear weapons. Iran not! 00:15  |  Joey 05/10/08
      2.   this unbalance is THE guarantee of peace 00:32  |  michel 05/10/08
      3.   Oh this is rich.... 01:20  |  betz55 05/10/08
      4.   Innate superiority 01:32  |  Gordon 05/10/08
      5.   If Iran had followed through on their agreement 02:21  |  Lynn 05/10/08
      6.   Another Useless Piece Of Paper? 02:24  |  Jeff Northridge 05/10/08
      7.   Gordon 02:28  |  natan 05/10/08
      8.   betz55- israel apartheid?? 03:15  |  alan 05/10/08
      9.   Gordon`s nonsence 03:45  |  Bruce 05/10/08
      10.   For #8 Alan - Definition Of "Apartheid" 04:18  |  chet 05/10/08
      11.   A chronic imbalance? 04:38  |  utagawa 05/10/08
      12.   On the other hand... 04:42  |  utagawa 05/10/08
      13.   Creepfool, when will the UK disarm its nukes? 05:05  |  Dan 05/10/08
      14.   Is this a Joke? 05:21  |  Baruch Gold 05/10/08
      15.   UN Born Dead Circus! 06:38  |  Niva dos Santos 05/10/08
      16.   IF Israel has the bomb 12:06  |  petra 05/10/08
      17.   World Hypocricy???? 12:24  |  Alex Tomassi 05/10/08
      18.   What else is new double standards as always 14:18  |  Ari 05/10/08
      19.   Alex Tomassi 15:14  |  Elihu 05/10/08
     Read & React
    Syria: We reserve right to respond to 'criminal' U.S. raid
    Responses: 206
    Akiva Eldar: The battle for peace is still on
    Responses: 2
    Haaretz Editorial: Defeat settler terror
    Responses: 48
    Shlomo Avineri: Global financial crisis & rise of the Nazis
    Responses: 5
    New rules would expel illegal immigrants, ban some for life
    Send response


    More Headlines
    14:25 Polls show Livni edging past Netanyahu for PM, Labor headed for debacle
    14:28 Syrian diplomat: Syria reserves right to respond to U.S. attack
    08:17 ANALYSIS / U.S. takes page from Israel's book in Syria strike
    13:42 Top Iran commander: We supply arms to Middle East militias
    12:02 PLAY THE NEWS / Can you beat OPEC at its own game?
    10:07 Victim of violence, slave to a mortgage
    11:09 In heavily GOP Alaska, 'Frozen Chosen' Jewish Democrat may take state's lone seat in House
    13:56 Finance Minister: In coalition moves, Netanyahu harmed Israel
    12:51 Shares fall on Tel Aviv exchange; interest rate cut seen
    00:37 Mazuz calls for incitement probe against settler activists in response to West Bank rioting
    20:33 German economist compares criticism of bankers to 1930s anti-Semitism
    12:03 Livni aims for elections as soon as possible, seeks Knesset dissolution
    12:04 ANALYSIS / Without a strong supporting cast, Livni is doomed
    03:08 How much have you lost, and what can you do about it?
    03:28 Chief IDF rabbi taught Torah to jailed Jewish extremists
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Living in Israel Studying in English
    Click & Meet our students from all around the world
    Dial 013 for your long-distance calls
    and get all your money back
    US CITIZENS
    Vote for real change. Request your ballot today!
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
    www. israel-property.com
    Hebrew Summer courses
    From $39.95
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved