nuclear-news

Time for Israel to own up about its nuclear weapons

Israel is believed to be the only Middle East country to possess atomic weapons. Its government neither confirms nor denies their existence

Nuclear Scrutiny to turn to Israel.  WSJ.com By JAY SOLOMON, 12 Sept 10, WASHINGTON—Arab states are preparing to press for far greater United Nations controls over Israel’s nuclear program, in a move that could complicate the Obama administration’s broader nonproliferation campaign and Middle East peace drive.

Beginning Monday, the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, will hold two sets of meetings in Vienna aimed at strengthening international efforts to stanch the spread of atomic weapons.

Arab diplomats say they are preparing to use the conferences—for the second consecutive year—to pass a resolution through the IAEA’s member states aimed at bringing Israel’s nuclear program under tighter international controls.

The resolution seeks to pressure Israel into signing the U.N.’s principal counterproliferation document, the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, and to place Israel’s nuclear assets under IAEA safeguards. A similar resolution passed last year.

Israel is believed to be the only Middle East country to possess atomic weapons. Its government neither confirms nor denies their existence
The U.S. has already begun trying to head off the Arab initiative, according to American and Arab diplomats, due to concerns it will distract from the conferences’ focus on the proliferation cases of Iran and Syria.

Arabs Seek Scrutiny of Israel’s Nuclear Work – WSJ.com

September 13, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | MIDDLE EAST, politics international | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons