The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today rejected an Arab-backed resolution calling on Israel to join the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT).
The general assembly of the 151-member IAEA failed to pass the resolution with 51 votes against, 46 votes for, and 23 abstentions. The rest were absent.
Arab representatives have argued Israel's presumed nuclear arsenal threatens regional peace and stability.
Israel had earlier warned the UN nuclear watchdog that the Arab-led push to target the Jewish state could deal a "fatal blow" to future cooperation on boosting Middle East security.
The United States had urged Arab states to withdraw the nonbinding resolution, saying it could derail broader efforts to ban such arms in the Middle East and also send a negative signal to the relaunched Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
compiled from agency reports
The general assembly of the 151-member IAEA failed to pass the resolution with 51 votes against, 46 votes for, and 23 abstentions. The rest were absent.
Arab representatives have argued Israel's presumed nuclear arsenal threatens regional peace and stability.
Israel had earlier warned the UN nuclear watchdog that the Arab-led push to target the Jewish state could deal a "fatal blow" to future cooperation on boosting Middle East security.
The United States had urged Arab states to withdraw the nonbinding resolution, saying it could derail broader efforts to ban such arms in the Middle East and also send a negative signal to the relaunched Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
compiled from agency reports
