Israel Narrowly Escapes Atomic Energy Agency Vote

The International Atomic Energy Agency failed on Friday to pass a resolution that would have called on Israel to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and to open its nuclear facility to international inspection. The 51-46 vote with 23 abstentions was, according to some, the result of fears that the resolution’s passage could jeopardize a conference planned for 2012 in which the idea of making the Middle East as nuclear-weapons-free zone is to be raised. American representatives also lobbied Arab delegates, insisting that passage of the resolution could be harmful to the delicate talks underway between Israel and the Palestinians. A similar resolution passed last year, but some nations that voted in favor at that time were among those who abstained this time. Israel’s policy of nuclear ambiguity, which is a lynchpin of its defense strategy, is seen as being jeopardized by efforts to force the Jewish state to ratify the NPT and to expose its nuclear capabilities.