The UN General Assembly has passed an Arab-introduced resolution calling on Israel not to develop, produce or possess nuclear arms and criticizing the country for not being part to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The resolution calls on Israel to "accede to that treaty
without further delay, not to develop, produce test or otherwise
acquire nuclear weapons, to renounce possession of nuclear
weapons," and put its nuclear facilities under the safeguard
of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency, AP reports.
The UN would like to see the whole of the Middle East a nuclear
weapons-free zone, according to the text of the document, which
specifies Israel is the only country in the region which has not
signed the non-proliferation treaty.
Israel, which is believed to have nuclear arms but has never
admitted to it, has long been under fire from Arab countries in
the region for not putting its alleged stockpile under
international supervision.
The resolution, initiated by Egypt, was approved by 161 nations
with only five voting against it and 18 abstentions.
The United States and Canada were among the minority opposing the
measure.
US representative Robert Wood, earlier condemned the resolution
for failing “to meet the fundamental tests of fairness and
balance.”
“It confines itself to expressions of concern about the
activities of a single country," he said.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) voted in September
on a resolution, expressing concern over Israel's assumed nuclear
arsenal. That time the resolution was rejected by 58 votes to 45.
In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly passed a non-binding
call on Tel Aviv to join the NPT “without further
delay."
Israel then rebuffed the call with the Foreign Ministry
saying in a statement that the UN “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."
Israel has repeatedly stressed it sees Iran as the real nuclear
threat in the region, urging the international
community to do whatever it takes to thwart Iranian nuclear
problem. Tehran insists it’s not pursuing weapons and its nuclear
effort is altogether peaceful.