The fight between the Arab world and western powers over Israel's nuclear capability is set to play out at this week's International Atomic Energy Agency summit. The Arab world wants Israel to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty at this summit, which would force Israel to reveal all of its nuclear capability. The Arab world tabled such an action at last year's summit but Israel dismissed the document as symbolic but it did result in the publishing of an 81 page report, last month, on Israel's nuclear arms after an IAEA inspection. The report disappointed the Arab nations, just after the IAEA's recent "damning" report on Iran and Syria's nuclear capability, and led them to accuse the IAEA of having double-standards and differences in the way it treats members and non-members, since the report was not up to the standards of reports before. President Obama's position and debates at previous conferences have put pressure on Israel to allow inspections. The United States believes that this upcoming IAEA conference is neither the time nor the place for such issues because of the delicacy of peace talks in the Middle East and that any pressure Israel will result in even less willingness to cooperate. Israel's secretive nature on the issue fuels the Arab nations' feeling of entitlement to nuclear arms programs of their own, while even others are sure of Israel's capability, including at least 400 warheads. Regardless, this could be the beginning of a major arms race in the Middle East.
By Rebecca M. Samson
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