West moves in support of Israeli nukes

Press TV reports:

The West seeks to protect Israel from nuclear inspections after a major initiative to place Tel Aviv's nuclear activities on the IAEA agenda.

Western nations are reportedly trying to foil the bid in a politically charged vote called no-action motion.

A no-action motion may be tabled if a member state believes the subject-matter of a proposed resolution falls outside the competence of a UN body. If successful, it would halt the debate on the resolution altogether.

In the United Nations, before a motion can be put to vote the defending side is allowed to move a specific no action motion, allowing the obstruction of the counter motion submitted to the plenary assembly for voting.

If successful, this would be the third time that the Israeli nuclear program is protected from inspection.

The UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, agreed on Monday to put the issue of 'Israel's nuclear capabilities' on the agenda of its annual meeting in Vienna upon a request by the 118-member Non-Aligned Movement and the Arab League.

In reaction to the decision, Israel filed a motion to remove the issue from the IAEA agenda. It also termed the move as inconsistent, 'substantially unwarranted and flawed'.

Based on the initiative, the IAEA seeks to pass a resolution, calling for a nuclear weapon free Middle East.

Under its policy of 'strategic ambiguity' Israel has neither admitted nor denied possession of nuclear weapons. It, however, reportedly has up to 200 nuclear warheads in its arsenal.