Adonis Diaries

On Dec. 4, 2012, the UN general assembly has overwhelmingly approved a resolution calling on Israel to open its nuclear program for inspection.

The resolution, approved by a vote of 174 to 6, with six abstentions, calls on Israel to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) “without further delay” and open its nuclear facilities to inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Those voting against were Israel, the US, Canada, Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau. (Yes, Canada is under US mandated power like the other pseudo Island-States)

Resolutions adopted by the 193-member general assembly are not legally binding but they do reflect world opinion and carry moral and political weight.

And the resolution adds to pressure on Israel as it faces criticism over plans to increase settlement in the West Bank, a move seen as retaliation for the assembly recognizing Palestinian statehood.

Israel refuses to confirm or deny possessing nuclear bombs, though it is widely believed to have them.

Israel has refused to join the non-proliferation treaty along with three nuclear weapon states: India, Pakistan and North Korea.

Israel insists there must first be a Middle East peace agreement before the establishment of a proposed regional zone free of weapons of mass destruction. (sort of vying for unbalanced negotiation terms?)

Israel “rivals” in the region argue that Israel’s undeclared nuclear arsenal presents the greatest threat to peace in the region.

While the US voted against the resolution, it voted in favour of two paragraphs in it that were put to separate votes. Both support universal adherence to the NPT and call on those countries that aren’t parties to ratify it “at the earliest date”.

The only no votes on those paragraphs were Israel and India.

The vote came as a sequel to the cancellation of a high-level conference aimed at banning nuclear weapons from the Middle East.

All the Arab nations and Iran had planned to attend the summit in mid-December in Helsinki, Finland, but the US announced on 23 November that it would not take place, citing political turmoil in the region and Iran’s defiant stance on non-proliferation.

Iran and some Arab nations countered that the real reason for the cancellation was Israel’s refusal to attend.

Just before Monday’s vote, the Iranian diplomat Khodadad Seifi told the assembly “the truth is that the Israeli regime is the only party which rejected to conditions for a conference”.

Seifi called for “strong pressure on that regime to participate in the conference without any preconditions”.

The Guardian

Despite not having any nuclear warheads or even the capability to produce them, Iran has come under intense international pressure and sanctions — which affects civilians and is causing food insecurity and mass suffering.

In comparison, Israel, who has at least 200 nuclear warheads and does not allow inspectors into its secretive nuclear weapons program, has not been hit by any sanctions nor has come under any substantial international pressure.

Israel is the only country in the Middle East with nuclear weapons.