The UN would like to take a look at "suspected" nuclear facilities. Will that occur? Not a chance.
U.N. to Israel: Open nuclear program to inspection
The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution Monday calling on Israel to quickly open its nuclear program for inspection and backing a high-level conference to ban nuclear weapons from the Middle East that was just canceled.
All Arab nations and Iran had planned to attend the conference in mid-December in Helsinki, Finland, but the United States announced on Nov. 23 that it wouldn't take place, citing political turmoil in the region and Iran's defiant stance on nonproliferation. Iran and some Arab nations countered that the real reason for the cancellation was Israel's refusal to attend.
The resolution, approved by a vote of 174-6 with 6 abstentions, calls on Israel to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty "without further delay" and open its nuclear facilities to inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Those voting "no" were Israel, the U.S., Canada, Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau.
Resolutions adopted by the 193-member General Assembly are not legally binding, but they do reflect world opinion and carry moral and political weight.
Previously Obama has called on Israel to sign:
"Whether we're talking about Israel or any other country, we think that becoming part of the NPT is important," Obama said. "And that, by the way, is not a new position. That's been a consistent position of the United States government, even prior to my administration."
Though this is not at all the first time such a resolution has been passed, and nor is it legally binding, this latest round is strongly supported by the world, 174-6 with 6 abstentions. Israel still refuses to acknowledge its nuclear weapon stockpile or their destabilizing presence in the region, while most other nations seek a nuclear-free Mideast.
Cowen Thorne