According to the US and Israel, it does.
In a rare vote, the UN General Assembly passed a UN atomic watchdog resolution calling on all Middle East nations to renounce atomic weapons. Since the US and the West have been pushing to stop nuclear proliferation in the region, especially Iran, you would think they would have supported and applauded the vote.
Not so. The US, Israel, and most of the EU either opposed or abstained on the vote. On the other hand, most Arab nations and Iran supported it.
So what’s the problem?
One clause urged all nations in the Middle East, pending creation of a nuclear weapons-free zone (NWFZ) there, not to make or test nuclear arms or let them be deployed on their soil. The other urged big nuclear arms powers not to foil such a step. “The new language threatened to bring new political issues into the IAEA that would ultimately detract from the technical role the IAEA plays in safeguarding nuclear material,” said a Western diplomat whose delegation abstained.
That argument is not only faulty, it is empty. The only nation in the Mideast to possess a nuclear arsenal is Israel. And the nation with the largest nuclear arsenal in the world that is not subject to IAEA inspection is, again, Israel. That is because Israel has refused to sign any international nuclear treaties.
I don’t understand the double standard. I am Jewish, but I don’t believe that Israel has special rights to possess Weapons of Mass Destruction while at the same time threatening to attack nations that may desire the same.
The idea of a nuclear free zone in the Middle East has to be one of the most promising ideas for ensuring peace there in many years. That, coupled with an equitable settlement of and guarantees regarding boundary questions, could end the nightmare which has gripped the region for these many decades. The fact that the United States continues to resist all honest attempts at ensuring balanced solutions there casts us as an obstacle to peace. Can there be any wonder why the Holy Father, Benedict XVI, refused Secretary Rice the audience that she sought recently while on here way to the region?
John Lowell
Israel has nuclear weapons. They could just sign the treaty and just keep lying as they have done since 1948.
“ISRAEL WILL NOT BE THE FIRST NATION TO INTRODUCE NUCLEAR WEAPONS INTO THE MIDDLE EAST!” THAT MEANS THE GOOD OLE USA (DICK CHENEY) WILL NEED TO DROP A NUCLEAR BUNKER BUSTER OR TWO BEFORE ISRAEL UNLEASHES ITS NUCLEAR MISSILES (PROBABLY FROM ITS NEWLY PURCHASED GERMAN SUBMARINES).
Mr. Dickerson,
Correction: Israel never purchases, they “take”. They are always victims real or otherwise. The world pays. The loans they take out are never paid back, they are “forgiven”. They invade, we say “good”. They steal land, starve people, cut their electricity, water and the US says if you complain, you’re an anti-something. It’s criminal.
I wish people on the hard left were more well-informed.
The reason Israel needs nuclear weapons is because they have been attacked time and time again every since May of 1948, additionally Muslims leaders in the area going back to Naasser have been calling for her complete destruction. Israel has a population of 5 million and is completely surrouned by over 200 million sworn enemies.
Israel was attacked the day after it declared independance, May 14 of 1948. They were attacked by just about every country in the area in 1967 and again in 73. They are the size of the State of New Jersey as compared to the entire United States and are totally surrounded by Muslim Radicals who want to destroy her. Of course they need nukes!
Questions for S. Fox:
In June of 1967 the entire are known as the “west bank” was controlled by Jordan? True or false?
The Kingdom of Jordan ATTACKED Israel in 1967, did it not?
The West Bank was taken in the course of Israel defending herself. How is that “stealing land?”
Also, Eygpt controlled the Gaza Strip up until June of 67 and Israel took it while in the course of defending herself in a war of aggression? True?
Mr. Fox,
It never ceases to amaze me how some people see things so one sided. The Israelis are not angels, but please do me a favor and do not paint the Arabs or in the case of your argument the “Palestinians” as the sole victims.
In my humble view, the Palestinians (in reality Jordanians or Otomans) are a corrupt people that received Billions, yes! Billions in aid from their super rich cousins and just let their own people starve and they too have committed their share of attrocities.
In addition, if we look at history, the British, French, German, Spanish, Belgian, and Americans were no better. For starters, lets have a look at the slave trade. How many millions of Africans were enslaved to give the Americans free labor? How many Native-Americans were murdered? How many Aztecs were raped by the Spanish? How about the rape on Nanking or the British East India Trading Co.? Where they very different?
If you really aspire for peace, then we have to look beyond your hatred of a specific group and work on educating the next generation to demand democracy and a real legal system. As long as we continue to play the race, religion and color cards we are just fooling ourselves.
Best Wishes,
Alex Rodriguez
Mexico City
PS. I am not Jewish, I just happen to have a brain and choose to use it.
my reply is to all those who defend Israel, that remains to occupy, deport , terrorise steal and last but not least massacres people in the name of the Jews ? shame on you..The Liberty will one day haunt you down.
I agreed with what you said except for one error: The submarines for isreal were not purchased, they are a gift paid for by the German taxpayer! A bloody shame this!
Why would Israel not agree to such a provision?
AND YOU SIT DOWN AND BE QUIET VANUUNU!
There was no mention of this UN vote on any of the mainstream media. No surprise there, as the media gods don’t want to get off message on Iran and their supposed “nuclear weapons”. I fear the media spin and brainwashing over any nuclear or terrorist attack. I think people need to recognize that the media in America is a factory for Weapons of Mass Deception. Iran and all the Arabs are prepared to sign a nuke free zone but all we hear is how Iran is a threat with it’s nukes. The demonization campaign against Iran goes on unabated while Israel continues to stockpile it’s nuclear arsenal which we know exist – thanks to pictures provided by Vanunu.
Like the above person, I have not seen this news reported at all in the mainstream media. Since I am not a racist, nor anti-Semitic, I guess Jewish ownership/control of the media has absolutely NOTHING to do with this!?!
The reason that Israel needs to have nukes and no other Mid East country can have them is basically the same reason that Jews in Israel must have special rights that the Arabs can’t – the very existence of Israel as a Jewish state requires that Jews live privileged lives in Israel. They must have access to free land (stolen from the Palestinians), massive amounts of water for swimming pools (in a dessert), high salaries, and great amounts of American aid. This is because the truth is that there is no need for Israel. The world does not need to provide a refuge for dispossed, suffering Jews. The Jews in the West live good lives, free from persecution. In America, Jews enjoy economic success, political influence, and scholastic access without equal. If the Jews in Israel can’t live as well in Israel as they can in the West, what Jew would want to live in Israel. So this ridiculous “hot house” environment has to be maintained for Jews who can be convinced to live in Israel or the whole wretched country would look like an abandoned gold mine town in Nevada, left behind when the gold ran out.
american taxpayer’s hard earned money goes towards the funding of israel and its military. why does israel need more aid? bushy just increased the yearly aid of $2.4 billion to $29.3 for the next 10 years! america gives more to israel than it gives to anyone else and there are tons more 3rd world countries that deserve aid to feed, clothe and shelter them than israel needs to reinforce in military, not to mention israel’s military is at par or has better technology than the americans at the expense of the average american taxpayer! id like to see how many americans are aware of this.
So much have been said! now, are we going to let a minority of war monger burn the world?
When are we going to act to stop this madness?
Aside from the issue of whether or not the US should be giving foreign aid to any country to begin with, I find it ludicrous that countries which seem to have the wherewithall to afford to develop nuclear weapons aren’t expected to be responsible for their own economic health and wealth. Cases in point: Israel, Pakistan and India; why are we still giving them foreign aid?! If they can afford nukes, they can afford to take care of themselves.