Nuclear hypocrisies

It is time the international community embraced long- standing Egyptian proposals to make the Middle East a region free of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Accusations that Iraq possessed WMD have been shown to be false. Allegations that Iran was illicitly developing a nuclear weapons programme were undermined when, a few days ago, Tehran agreed to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) free and unconditional access to nuclear facilities.

Now it is surely time for the international community to direct its attention towards Israel, a state which non- proliferation analysts estimate has some 100-200 nuclear weapons, and pressurise it to join the 1968 Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty.

The situation can no longer be ignored. Certainly, there is no legitimate reason for Israel to be exempted from the obligations forced on every other country in the region, which makes the remarks attributed to Mohamed El-Baradei, the IAEA chief, in which he said Israel would be "willing" to get rid of any nuclear arms it may have if there was peace in the Middle East, all the more inexplicable. Why the "if"?

Why is it acceptable for Israel, that has for years occupied Arab territories, bloodily oppressing the inhabitants, to decide when and if it will allow inspections, let alone disarm? This statement on the part of Mr El-Baradei is tantamount to a declaration that Israel is above international law.

Arab and neighbouring countries, including Iran, must protest this statement. If Israel is to be allowed to maintain whatever policies it wants until peace prevails -- a policy that is making peace impossible -- then what is to stop other countries demanding the same privileges?

Al-Ahram Weekly Online : 30 October - 5 November 2003 (Issue No. 662)
Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/662/ed.htm