Saturday
Sep192009
Nuclear Dilemma: The IAEA Turns Its Attention to Israel
Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 14:18
On Friday, members of the International Atomic Energy Agency voted 49-45, with 16 abstaining, for a resolution which "expresses concern" about the "nuclear capabilities" of a country which raises "concern about the threat posed by the proliferation of nuclear weapons for the security and stability of the Middle East".
You might not think this is surprising, given the discussion of Iran's nuclear programme. Except Iran isn't the subject of the resolution.
It's Israel.
The Jerusalem Post complained, "The result was a setback not only for Israel but also for the United States and other backers of the Jewish state, which had lobbied for 18 years of past practice --- debate on the issue without a vote. US chief delegate Glyn Davies said, "Such an approach is highly politicized and does not truly address the complexities at play regarding crucial nuclear-related issues in the Middle East."
In contrast, Iran hailed the vote as a "glorious moment", as its delegate Ali Asghar Soltanieh said, "The US Administration .... has received a message that they should not continue supporting Israel at any price."
You might not think this is surprising, given the discussion of Iran's nuclear programme. Except Iran isn't the subject of the resolution.
It's Israel.
The Jerusalem Post complained, "The result was a setback not only for Israel but also for the United States and other backers of the Jewish state, which had lobbied for 18 years of past practice --- debate on the issue without a vote. US chief delegate Glyn Davies said, "Such an approach is highly politicized and does not truly address the complexities at play regarding crucial nuclear-related issues in the Middle East."
In contrast, Iran hailed the vote as a "glorious moment", as its delegate Ali Asghar Soltanieh said, "The US Administration .... has received a message that they should not continue supporting Israel at any price."