BICOM

Dr Shaul Horev, head of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission expressed approval for Jordan’s civilian nuclear programme, and argued that peace is a pre-requisite to a nuclear-free Middle East, at the annual meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna yesterday.

Responding to an Arab initiative for a conference this winter to discuss a nuclear-free Middle East, Horev argued that, ‘The concept of a region free of WMD that has never been put to test even in the most peaceful regions of the world is certainly much less applicable to the current volatile and hostile Middle East region.’ Underscoring his point, Horev commented that there is currently a ‘volatile and hostile situation’ in the region, criticising Iran and the Syrian government which ‘fights for its survival at a cost of tens of thousands of lives of innocent Syrian civilians.’

By contrast, Horev declared that Israel has no problem with the civilian nuclear program of Jordan, which signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994. Horev said, ‘With regards to Jordan’s civilian nuclear program I wish to emphasise that Israel supports the use of nuclear power by its neighbours, to meet their energy and water needs.’    Summarizing Israel’s position, Horev commented, ‘Israel believes in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in the Middle East, as long as states fully honour their international non-proliferation obligations.’

Arab states have tried to use the idea of a ‘nuclear-free Middle East’ to bring international pressure to bear over Israel’s nuclear programme, with Israel arguing that the issue cannot be addressed until there is comprehensive peace in the region.

Horev also accused Iran over its nuclear programme, saying it was only creating the ‘hollow impression’ of wanting to cooperate with the international community. The IAEA Board passed a resolution last week condemning Iran’s continued defiance of international demands over its suspected development of nuclear weapons capability.