Anti-Israel nuclear resolution rejected by IAEA member states

by Shlomo Cesana, Reuters and Israel Hayom Staff

Arab resolution criticizes Israel over assumed atomic arsenal, calls on it to join global anti-nuclear weapons pact • Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman: "This is a victory for Israeli diplomacy. The rejection of the proposal sends an important message."

Israel's nuclear facility near Dimona | Photo credit: Dudu Greenshpun

Member states of the U.N. nuclear agency rejected on Thursday an Arab resolution criticizing Israel over its assumed atomic arsenal, in a diplomatic victory for Western states that opposed the initiative.

Arab states had submitted the nonbinding resolution -- which called on Israel to join a global anti-nuclear weapons pact -- to the annual meeting of the 162-nation International Atomic Energy Agency.

The United States and its allies argued that the resolution, if adopted, would be counterproductive. Fifty-eight countries voted against the text and 45 states for it. Other countries either abstained or were absent.

Officials in the Israel Atomic Agency Commission said the proposed resolution was an attempt to divert the international community's attention from burning problems in the Middle East, from Iran's nuclear ambitions or the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime in Syria. 

Officials in the Prime Minister's Office said they identified efforts by the Arab League to influence African countries to vote in favor of the anti-Israel resolution at the IAEA, which is why Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to African leaders.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said, "This is a victory for Israeli diplomacy. The rejection of the proposal sends an important message, whereby the international community does not agree with the empty attempt of pointing an accusatory finger at Israel."

Shlomo Cesana, Reuters and Israel Hayom Staff

Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=20385

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