LONDON Ñ The International Atomic Energy Agency has decided to
discuss Israeli nuclear capabilities in its next major conference.
Diplomatic sources said the IAEA has placed on the agenda of its General
Conference and Regular Session the subject of "Israeli Nuclear Capabilities
and Threats." The subject will be discussed at the conference in Vienna in
September.
The sources said this is the first time in decades that the IAEA has
placed Israel's nuclear programs on the agenda of its general conference.
The
conference has been planned from Sept. 15 to Sept. 19, Middle East Newsline reported.
They said the subject was placed at the behest of Arab and Islamic states.
The proposal to discuss Israel's nuclear programs came from the Arab
League, the diplomats said. Oman was said to have submitted the request.
The IAEA has reserved the conference to also discuss Iran's nuclear
program and U.S. charges that Teheran is developing nuclear weapons. In
response, Iran and Arab states have criticized the agency for failing to
address Israel's purported nuclear arsenal.
In a recent meeting, the Arab League has asserted that Israel has
stockpiled up to 300 nuclear warheads. The league said Israel now has the
capability of producing hydrogen bombs.
The sources said the Arab League plans to distribute a study on Israel's
nuclear programs to participants at the IAEA conference. The league will
also demand that Israel sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.