June 10, 2010
Jakarta Post
The UN nuclear watchdog is calling on Israel to join the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) and place its nuclear facilities under its control at the height of new sanctions against Iran.
The International Atomic and Energy Agency (IAEA) highlighted Israel’s nuclear capabilities at its board of governors meeting Monday, putting one of the US’ closest allies on the same agenda as Iran, North Korea and Syria.
IAEA director general Yukiyo Amano has asked all member states to submit their review to support the implementation of the 2009 resolution, calling on Israel to join the NPT, before the body’s general meeting in September.
Israel has neither denied nor confirmed that it possesses nuclear weapons but its threat of a preemptive strike against Iran if Tehran continued developing its nuclear program has raised concerns of nuclear wars in the region.
Amano said Monday that Iran had not cooperated in allowing the agency to confirm that all nuclear material in Iran was for peaceful purposes.
Al Jazeera reported that the new pressure on Israel was headed by an 18-country bloc lead by Arab nations as they stepped up efforts to censure Israel over its nuclear program, which they said puts the region at risk of an arms race and potentially, war.
Jakarta, as a coordinator for disarmament at the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), has also called for Israel to join the NPT and supported the establishment of Middle East Nuclear Weapon Free Zone.
Kusnanto Anggoro, lecturer at the University of Indonesia, said Israel would lash out at any resolution against its nuclear capabilities, especially at the peak of worldwide condemnation against its attack on international aid flotilla.
Israel has been under fire in international forums after Israeli commandos last week stormed a Turkish aid vessel bound for Gaza, killing nine activists and wounding dozens more.
“There is political sensitivity involved in the Israel issue when it comes to their nuclear capabilities.
The US and its western allies will protect Israel’s nuclear program as part of their political interest in the Middle East. I don’t see how any pressure against Israel will lead to it signing the NPT.”
Iranian Ambassador to the IAEA Ali Asghar Soltanieh quoted by IRNA news agency as saying: “The US, Canada and the European Union, they prefer not to discuss Israel’s nuclear capability, but they have joined the consensus because they have no other choice.”
Israel has also come to center stage during five-yearly review conference of the non-
proliferation treaty last month in New York as many of the 189 member countries called for Israel to join the NPT.
proliferation treaty last month in New York as many of the 189 member countries called for Israel to join the NPT.
The final outcome of the review, however, fell short of demanding Israel to join the NPT because members failed to reach consensus. Israel is only singled out in the document to support the Middle East Nuclear Weapon Free Zone, which Israel has said it would not join.
Muhammad Najib, a lawmaker from the National Mandate Party, said it was time Israel join the NPT as the UN watchdog and the UNSC have “unfairly” singled out Iranian nuclear facilities, without placing similar controls on those belonging to Israel.
He referred to reports that say Israel has 200 nuclear warheads.
“The UN is looking to slap more sanctions on Iran because of reports from the IAEA saying it couldn’t verify whether Iran is developing nuclear weapons. What about Israel? The IAEA has not even had access to Israel’s nuclear facilities and yet no one puts them under pressure. This is a double standard.
Israel has to join the NPT, or it will bring the IAEA’s credibility into question.”
By Lilian Budianto
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