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Israel rejects UN call for nuclear transparency
http://rt.com/news/israel-rejects-un...nsparency-298/
Israel has rebuffed a UN call to adhere to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and open itself to international inspectors, calling the suggestion a "meaningless mechanical vote" of a body that “lost all its credibility regarding Israel.”
*In a 174-6 vote, the United Nations General Assembly demanded in a non-binding call that Tel Aviv join the NPT “without further delay," in an effort to create a legally binding nuclear-free Middle East.
Washington, Israel's strongest ally, surprised no one by voting against the resolution – but did approve two paragraphs that were voted on separately, which called for universal adherence to the NPT and for all non-signatory governments to join.
The UN body "has lost all its credibility regarding Israel with these types of routine votes that are ensured passage by an automatic majority and which single out Israel," Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor was quoted by Jerusalem Post as saying.
The Assembly's call on Israel comes days after a large majority of its members voted to grant Palestine statehood state status and just weeks after the an escalation of violence between Gazans and Israel's occupation forces. Palmor stressed, however, that since the NPT vote takes place annually, the Palestinian victory is not connected.
Israel is not a signatory to the 1970 Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, the main objective of which is to is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology. Despite near-universal acknowledgement that Tel Aviv maintains a powerful nuclear arsenal, Israeli officials promote a position claiming their government will “not be the first country to introduce weapons into the Middle East.”
While at the same time ....
U.N. Steps Up Pressure on Iran Nuclear Program
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...298054608.html
The U.S. and several of its allies aim to step up pressure on Iran with a proposal that would empower the United Nations nuclear watchdog to order snap inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities.
In a draft resolution presented Wednesday, the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council—the U.S., Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom—plus Germany called it "essential and urgent" that Iran give international inspectors unfettered access to its nuclear sites. The International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors is expected to approve the resolution at its meeting in Vienna this week, diplomats said.
Legally, the language of the resolution, particularly the use of the words "essential and urgent," would give the U.N. agency some more leverage in its long-standing and often-stalled probe of Iran's nuclear program, which the U.S. and its allies suspect is being used to develop weapons, a charge Tehran denies.
Although the atomic agency doesn't have power to enforce resolutions, not obeying an order for a snap inspection would put Iran in violation of the U.N. nuclear safeguards treaty it signed on to in 1974 and could further isolate it diplomatically.
The strongly worded resolution indicated a new sense of urgency to pressure Iran, particularly as Syria's civil war and growing calls within Israel's government to attack Iran stir tensions in the Middle East.
Hypocritical double standards displayed by both the US and the UN. Total B.S.
http://rt.com/news/israel-rejects-un...nsparency-298/
Israel has rebuffed a UN call to adhere to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and open itself to international inspectors, calling the suggestion a "meaningless mechanical vote" of a body that “lost all its credibility regarding Israel.”
*In a 174-6 vote, the United Nations General Assembly demanded in a non-binding call that Tel Aviv join the NPT “without further delay," in an effort to create a legally binding nuclear-free Middle East.
Washington, Israel's strongest ally, surprised no one by voting against the resolution – but did approve two paragraphs that were voted on separately, which called for universal adherence to the NPT and for all non-signatory governments to join.
The UN body "has lost all its credibility regarding Israel with these types of routine votes that are ensured passage by an automatic majority and which single out Israel," Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor was quoted by Jerusalem Post as saying.
The Assembly's call on Israel comes days after a large majority of its members voted to grant Palestine statehood state status and just weeks after the an escalation of violence between Gazans and Israel's occupation forces. Palmor stressed, however, that since the NPT vote takes place annually, the Palestinian victory is not connected.
Israel is not a signatory to the 1970 Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, the main objective of which is to is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology. Despite near-universal acknowledgement that Tel Aviv maintains a powerful nuclear arsenal, Israeli officials promote a position claiming their government will “not be the first country to introduce weapons into the Middle East.”
While at the same time ....
U.N. Steps Up Pressure on Iran Nuclear Program
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...298054608.html
The U.S. and several of its allies aim to step up pressure on Iran with a proposal that would empower the United Nations nuclear watchdog to order snap inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities.
In a draft resolution presented Wednesday, the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council—the U.S., Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom—plus Germany called it "essential and urgent" that Iran give international inspectors unfettered access to its nuclear sites. The International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors is expected to approve the resolution at its meeting in Vienna this week, diplomats said.
Legally, the language of the resolution, particularly the use of the words "essential and urgent," would give the U.N. agency some more leverage in its long-standing and often-stalled probe of Iran's nuclear program, which the U.S. and its allies suspect is being used to develop weapons, a charge Tehran denies.
Although the atomic agency doesn't have power to enforce resolutions, not obeying an order for a snap inspection would put Iran in violation of the U.N. nuclear safeguards treaty it signed on to in 1974 and could further isolate it diplomatically.
The strongly worded resolution indicated a new sense of urgency to pressure Iran, particularly as Syria's civil war and growing calls within Israel's government to attack Iran stir tensions in the Middle East.
Hypocritical double standards displayed by both the US and the UN. Total B.S.
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