612 IAEA votes to turn blind eye to Israeli nukes, while keeping focus on Iran & Syria

IAEA votes to turn blind eye to Israeli nukes, while keeping focus on
Iran & Syria

Newsletter published on 23 September 2013

(1) Disarming Syria brings Israel’s suspected WMD arsenals into focus
(2) Israel staves off censure by IAEA, over its nukes
(3) Russia, China and South Africa voted for IAEA resolution on Israeli
nukes
(4) Arab countries were pressured to withdraw IAEA resolution before the
vote
(5) U.S. envoy tried to head off IAEA vote on Israel nukes, keep focus
on Iran & Syria
(6) Israel Deploys Commandos to Syria to Monitor WMD: Report (2012)
(7) Lavrov: US pressuring Russia into passing UN resolution on Syria
allowing military force

(1) Disarming Syria brings Israel’s suspected WMD arsenals into focus

http://rt.com/op-edge/israel-syria-chemical-weapons-disarmament-866/

Ivan Fursov, RT

September 14, 2013 14:27

One way to reduce the tensions surrounding the Syrian crisis would be
for Israel to also give up its alleged stockpiles of chemical and
biological weapons. Both Russia and the US are likely to ask Israel to
dismantle its stocks.

Recently declassified CIA documents suggest that Israel secretly built
up its own stockpile of chemical and biological weapons decades ago.
This has added more fuel to the lingering complaint of Arab states, who
accuse Israel of possessing nuclear weapons.

Syria has often spoken of its estimated 1,000-ton chemical weapons
stockpile as a deterrent against another military conflict with Israel.

“The chemical weapons in Syria are a mere deterrence against the Israeli
nuclear arsenal,” announced Syrian UN Ambassador Bashar Jaafari,
referring to the declassified CIA report on Israel's chemical weapons
program.

“It's a deterrent weapon and now the time has come for the Syrian
government to join the CWC as a gesture to show our willingness to be
against all weapons of mass destruction,” he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, generally perceived in the west as
Syria’s main protector, said Tuesday: “It's well known that Syria has a
certain arsenal of chemical weapons and the Syrians always viewed that
as an alternative to Israel's nuclear weapons.”

Now the Syrian government is suggesting it may not decommission its
chemical weapons stockpiles unless its neighbors do likewise.

“The main danger of WMD is the Israeli nuclear arsenal,” said Bashar
Jaafari, Syria's ambassador to the UN, last Thursday, stressing that
Israel also possesses chemical weapons but “nobody is speaking about that.”

Such statements put the Syrian chemical weapons crisis into a new
perspective. The US administration has for decades refused to discuss
Israeli arsenals that allegedly contain nuclear warheads. By bringing
the issue to an international discussion, Damascus might put the Obama
administration into an awkward position.

There has already been a reaction from Washington, when the State
Department spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said that the US will never accept
attempts to compare Syrian regime with “thriving democracy” of Israel
which “doesn't brutally slaughter and gas its own people,” she said.

Traditionally, Israeli officials never comment on accusations that the
country possesses WMD, pointing out that Israel lives under constant
threats from Middle East countries such as Iran, Lebanon and Syria.

Israel signed the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which came
into force in 1997, but has never ratified it. It remains to be seen
whether Tel Aviv will now ratify it, as well the 1972 Biological Weapons
Convention.

“Some of these states don't recognize Israel's right to exist and
blatantly call to annihilate it...These threats cannot be ignored by
Israel, in the assessment of possible ratification of the convention,”
the WDSJ reported Israeli government spokesman Jonathan Peled as saying. ...

Once Syria joins the Chemical Weapons Convention, only Israel, Angola,
Burma, Egypt, North Korea and South Sudan will remain outside the group.

(2) Israel staves off censure by IAEA, over its nukes

Israel staves off censure by IAEA

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/21/world/israel-staves-off-censure-by-iaea/

AP

Sep 21, 2013

VIENNA – Israel and its allies fended off an Arab-led attempt Friday to
censure the Jewish state’s refusal to acknowledge that it possesses
nuclear weapons and put them under international oversight.

It was the first time in three years that a resolution critical of
Israel was put to a vote at the annual conference of the U.N.’s
International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. The Arab decision to do so
reflected frustration over failed attempts to convene senior-level talks
on banning weapons of mass destruction from the Mideast.

More nations opposed the resolution than expected; 54 nations voted
against, while 43 backed the resolution and 32 abstained.

(3) Russia, China and South Africa voted for IAEA resolution on Israeli
nukes

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.548110

Behind the scenes: How the nuclear resolution on Israel was defeated

Though it would not have been binding, Jerusalem was concerned that an
IAEA resolution on Israel's supposed nuclear capabilities would have
diverted international attention from Iran and Syria.

By Barak Ravid | 01:00 22.09.13

A resolution introduced by Arab countries at the annual conference of
the International Atomic Energy Agency regarding Israel's nuclear
capabilities was defeated on Friday.

The Arab states had refrained from proposing anything similar during the
last two years, due to a combination of American pressure, diplomatic
efforts regarding a possible international conference to make the Middle
East a nuclear-free zone, and instability in Egypt, which traditionally
has been the country to push for such steps at the IAEA against Israel's
nuclear capabilities. ...

The resolution was opposed by 51 countries, including the United States,
the 28 countries of the European Union, as well as Norway, Switzerland,
Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan and South Korea. Another 43
nations voted in favor of it. In addition to Arab and Muslim countries,
it gained the support of Russia, China and South Africa. Thirty-two
countries abstained and representatives from 17 countries were absent
from the hall during the vote, some of them on orders from their
governments. ...

(4) Arab countries were pressured to withdraw the resolution before the vote

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4431555,00.html

UN nuclear assembly rejects Arab push on Israel

Earlier, Arab League envoy to IAEA says 'world has to know that Israel
is not playing a constructive role, that it has nuclear capability'

Latest Update:

09.20.13, 14:41 / Israel News

Ron Ben-Yishai, Reuters

Member states of the UN nuclear agency on Friday rejected an Arab
resolution singling out Israel for criticism over its assumed atomic
arsenal, in a diplomatic victory for Western powers that opposed the
initiative.

Arab states had submitted the non-binding resolution to the annual
gathering in Vienna for the first time since 2010 to signal their
frustration at the lack of progress in efforts to move towards a Middle
East free of nuclear weapons.

Fifty-one countries voted against the text and 43 states for.

Frustrated over the indefinite postponement last year of an
international conference on banning atomic arms in the region, Arab
states proposed a non-binding resolution expressing concern about
"Israeli nuclear capabilities."

Had it been adopted at the annual member state gathering of the UN
International Atomic Energy Agency, the proposal would call on Israel to
join a global anti-nuclear weapons treaty and place its nuclear
facilities under IAEA monitoring.

The United States said this week the move would hurt broader diplomatic
efforts towards creating a Middle East zone free of weapons of mass
destruction. Israel said it would deal a "serious blow" to any attempt
to hold regional security talks.

But Ambassador Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy, head of the Arab League group at
the IAEA, made clear the text would not be withdrawn before the vote.

"The world has to know that Israel is not playing a constructive role,
that Israel has a (nuclear) capability," Ramzy told Reuters.

Israel is widely believed to possess the Middle East's only nuclear
arsenal, drawing frequent Arab and Iranian condemnation. It has never
acknowledged having atomic weapons.

US and Israeli officials - who see Iran's atomic activity as the main
proliferation threat - have said a nuclear arms-free zone in the Middle
East could not be a reality until there was broad Arab-Israeli peace and
Iran curbed its program.

Israel and the United States accuse Iran of covertly seeking a nuclear
arms capability, something the Islamic state denies.

Iran this week said Israel's nuclear activities "seriously threaten
regional peace and security."

World powers agreed in 2010 to an Egyptian plan for an international
meeting to lay the groundwork for creating a Middle East free of weapons
of mass destruction.

But the United States, one of the big powers to co-sponsor the meeting,
said late last year it would not take place as planned last December and
did not suggest a new date.

Arab diplomats said they refrained from putting forward the resolution
on Israel at the 2011 and 2012 IAEA meetings to boost the chances of the
Middle East conference but it had no effect.

"We have engaged seriously and constructively in the preparations (for
the conference). The Israelis have been playing for time, delaying, we
have never seen enough seriousness on their part," Ramzy said.

Israel's atomic energy chief, Shaul Chorev, told this week's IAEA
meeting that Arab states were using it as a platform for "repeatedly
bashing" his country. The Arab move only deepens "existing distrust"
among the region's countries, he said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was personally involved in the
diplomatic battle that took place in recent days to prevent the
resolution condemning Israel at the IAEA.

Rejecting the Arab proposal in the IAEA is an important diplomatic
victory for Israel, especially due to the upcoming negotiations with
Iran regarding its possible disarmament of nuclear weapons.

The proposal was submitted by all Arab states and supported by Russia,
partly to fade out Syria's breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention,
but mainly under the context of Iran putting an end to its nuclear program.

Had the Arab proposal passed in the IAEA, the Iranians and their
supporters would have a significant claim to delay efforts to disarm,
claiming Israel must first do the same.

The rejection of the proposal in therefore a victory to Israel, and will
make it easier for the US, UN and Canada to conduct negotiations with Iran.

Israel's efforts in recent days were led by the Foreign Ministry's
strategic division in charge of dealing with the diplomatic aspect of
issues related to nuclear weapons. The Israel Atomic Energy Commission
aided the efforts. el."

(5) U.S. envoy tried to head off IAEA vote on Israel nukes, keep focus
on Iran & Syria

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/53060226/ns/world_news-asiapacific/

U.N. nuclear assembly rejects Arab push on Israel

By Fredrik Dahl

updated 9/20/2013 8:44:43 AM ET

VIENNA (Reuters) - Member states of the U.N. nuclear agency on Friday
rejected an Iranian-backed Arab bid to single out Israel for criticism
over its assumed atomic arsenal, in a diplomatic victory for Western
powers that opposed the initiative.

The debate and vote at an annual meeting of the 159-nation International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) underlined divisions at a time when the
United States and its allies are hoping for progress in a separate,
decade-old nuclear dispute with Iran.

Arab states had submitted a non-binding resolution on Israel to the
gathering in Vienna for the first time since 2010 to signal their
frustration at the lack of movement in efforts to create a Middle East
zone free of weapons of mass destruction.

Fifty-one countries voted against the text, which called on Israel to
join the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and 43 states for.
Others abstained or were absent.

The United States said earlier that targeting its close ally would only
hurt broader steps aimed at banning nuclear and other weapons of mass
destruction in the tinderbox region.

Israel is widely believed to possess the Middle East's only nuclear
arsenal, drawing frequent condemnation by Arab countries and Iran which
say it threatens peace and security.

U.S. and Israeli officials - who see Iran's atomic activity as the main
proliferation threat - have said a nuclear arms-free zone in the Middle
East could not be a reality until there was broad Arab-Israeli peace and
Iran curbed its program.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

The U.S. envoy to the IAEA, Joseph Macmanus, said the United States
regretted that the resolution had been brought to a vote.

"There are no winners today," Macmanus said. "We will look ahead and
continue the hard work to start a constructive dialogue on the
establishment of a weapons of mass destruction free zone in the Middle
East."

An Israeli diplomat said the "positive outcome gives better prospect to
Middle East dialogue".

Israel and the United States accuse Iran of covertly seeking a nuclear
arms capability, something Tehran denies. The election of a relative
moderate, Hassan Rouhani, as new Iranian president has raised hopes of
an easing of tension with the West. ...

(Editing by Alison Williams)

(6) Israel Deploys Commandos to Syria to Monitor WMD: Report (2012)

From: "Sadanand, Nanjundiah (Physics Earth Sciences)"
<sadanand@mail.ccsu.edu>
Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:51:31 -0500

http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/israel-deploys-special-operators-syria-monitor-chemical-arms-report/

Global Security Newswire

Dec. 10, 2012

Israeli commandos have been quietly deployed to Syria to track the
status of Bashar Assad's arsenal of weapons of mass destruction, the
Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday, citing other news organizations.

The Syrian military in recent days was reported to be preparing sarin
nerve agent and loading the material into aerial bombs. No word has come
yet, however, of an official order to use the chemical weapons against
Syrian opposition forces, which have steadily been gaining ground
against forces loyal to Damascus. The Syrian regime has repeatedly
declared it would not use chemical weapons against rebel forces.

Deployed Israeli commandos are "part of a secret war" to monitor Syrian
biological and chemical arms elements and to "sabotage their
development," according to the Sunday Times. The United Kingdom and the
United States have also positioned their own special forces for
potential intervention should Damascus carry out chemical attacks, the
Times of London reported on Wednesday.

Israeli Vice Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon in an interview with Israel
Radio indicated that Tel Aviv might act unilaterally if it perceives an
imminent danger from Syria's unconventional weapons, Reuters reported.
"On these matters, we have to be prepared to protect ourselves, by
ourselves," he said, continuing, "At this time, we see no sign that this
weaponry is being pointed at us."

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is readying to
potentially deploy personnel to the edge of Syria's territory upon
request by another country in the region, OPCW Deputy Director General
Grace Asirwatham said on Monday.

"We have intensified our capacity," Asirwatham told Reuters. "We are in
preparedness."

The official said the organization is "following the situation and [is]
also concerned about the situation."

"However, we cannot go into the country because we don't have a mandate
to do so," she said. The Hague, Netherlands-based agency monitors
compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention. Syria has not joined
the accord that prohibits the development, production, stockpiling or
use of chemical warfare materials.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Sunday said he had viewed
"some evidence" that the Syrian military is readying chemical arms for
use against opposition forces, Asian News International reported. He did
not describe the nature of the intelligence, which has reportedly also
been viewed by the United States.

An anonymous U.S. official told CNN that "satellite imagery showed the
movement of trucks and vehicles at sites where chemicals and weapons
were stored," the London Guardian summarized from the report. "We assume
the aircraft are in close proximity to the munitions," the official said.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Saturday said opposition forces "may
resort to using chemical weapons against the Syrian people ... after
having gained control of a toxic chlorine factory" to the east of
Aleppo, Agence France-Presse reported.

Washington and friendly European governments have hired private security
personnel to instruct Syrian opposition forces in how to safely gain
control of Damascus' chemical warfare materials, multiple high-ranking
envoys and a high-ranking U.S. official informed CNN on Sunday.

The instruction in how to track, gain control of, and safely manage arms
depots and sensitive chemical materials is taking place in Turkey and
Jordan. Some private contractors are inside Syria assisting opposition
forces in keeping tabs on the chemical facilities, one source said.

In statements last week, the Obama administration indicated its "red
line" for an intervention in Syria would be if Damascus actually uses
its chemical weapons or if it attempts to proliferate them to local
extremist organizations. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike
Rogers (R-Mich.) on Friday argued that the United States should
decisively act against Damascus "if we can say with even a moderate
degree of certainty that these weapons have been prepared and are put in
an arsenal for use," Foreign Policy reported.

(7) Lavrov: US pressuring Russia into passing UN resolution on Syria
allowing military force

Published time: September 22, 2013 09:48 Edited time: September 22, 2013
19:42

http://rt.com/news/us-russia-syria-resolution-pressure-202/

The US is pushing Russia into approving a UN resolution that would allow
for military intervention in Syria, in exchange for American support of
Syria's accession to OPCW, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

"Our American partners are starting to blackmail us: "˜If Russia does
not support a resolution under Chapter 7, then we will withdraw our
support for Syria's entry into the Organization for the Prohibition of
Chemical Weapons (OPCW). This is a complete departure from what I agreed
with Secretary of State John Kerry'," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov told Channel 1's Sunday Time program.

Chapter 7 of the UN charter would allow for potential military
intervention in Syria.

Western countries blinded by 'Assad must go' attitude

The head of Russia's Foreign Ministry went on to say he was surprised by
the West's "negligent" approach to the conflict.

"Our partners are blinded by an ideological mission for regime change,"
said Lavrov. "They cannot admit they have made another mistake."

Slamming the West's intervention in Libya and Iraq, the foreign minister
stated that military intervention could only lead to a catastrophe in
the region. Moreover, he stressed that if the West really was interested
in a peaceful solution to the conflict that has raged for over two
years, they would now be pushing for Syria's entry into the OPCW in the
first place, not for the ouster of President Bashar Assad.

"I am convinced that the West is doing this to demonstrate that they
call the shots in the Middle East. This is a totally politicized
approach," said Lavrov.Â

The Russian foreign minister pointed out that in the case of a military
scenario, militants would come to power and Syria would no longer be a
secular state. Up to three quarters "of these guys are Jihadists,"
including the most radical groups such as Al-Nusra Front and the Islamic
State of Iraq and Levant, who want to create an Islamic Caliphate in
Syria and in neighboring territories, Lavrov said. ...