Qatar Calls On UN To Monitor Israel’s Alleged Nuclear Facilities

Qatar has urged the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog to place “all of Israel’s nuclear facilities” under international supervision, according to a statement from the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs released today.

The statement revealed that, during a recent meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Jassim Yacoub al-Hammadi, Qatar’s ambassador to Austria, stressed the necessity for global organizations to enforce their obligations. “Hammadi underscored the need for the international community and its institutions to uphold their commitments under resolutions of the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly, the IAEA, and the 1995 Review Conference of the NPT, which called on Israel to subject all its nuclear facilities to IAEA safeguards,” the Qatari statement noted.

Additionally, the statement emphasized the importance of “intensified international efforts” to encourage Israel to sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a non-nuclear state. The Qatari Foreign Ministry also pointed out that “all Middle Eastern countries, except Israel, are parties to the NPT and have effective safeguard agreements with the Agency.”

Israel has consistently adhered to a policy of nuclear ambiguity, neither affirming nor denying the possession of nuclear weapons.

Arab countries have previously accused Western powers of hypocrisy on the nuclear issue, pointing out that while Israel’s nuclear activities have not been subjected to IAEA oversight, Iran is pressured to comply with NPT regulations.

Previous attempts by Arab states to pass resolutions at the IAEA calling for the oversight of Israel’s nuclear program have been unsuccessful. For example, in 2014, a proposal from 18 Arab member states was rejected by a vote of 58 to 45, with 27 countries abstaining.

A similar attempt was blocked in 2013, with 51 votes against and 43 in favor, and 32 countries abstaining.

{Matzav.com}