A decision to forego a resolution attacking Israel on the basis of its nuclear program was hailed by Israel as rare positive gesture from its foes. The move, described by Arab states as a “goodwill gesture,” came at the annual meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. At previous meetings, the Arab world challenged Israel’s nuclear ambiguity policy – a lynchpin of its strategic defense plan – by insisting it sign-on to making the Middle East a nuclear-weapons-free zone. Since Israel is the region’s only nuclear nation, it views the measure as an attempt to strip away its nuclear deterrence. But while the decision to forego the resolution this year, the Arab nations fully intend to push forward with an Egyptian proposal for a conference in 2012 where the main issue to be discussed will be the nuclear-weapons-free zone.