ISRAEL

BBC: Nuclear Watchdog 'Ignores Israel'

Arab states have accused the United Nations nuclear watchdog of holding
back from criticising Israel. Egypt, Syria and Saudi Arabia said the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was ignoring Israel's alleged
weapons of mass destruction. At the same time, they said, the agency
was
putting pressure on other countries to give up their nuclear
programmes.

The IAEA is urging Iran to prove that its nuclear power plants are not
being used to develop weapons-grade material. North Korea was in a
similar position until it withdrew from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
(NPT), which is designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
Israel, unlike Iran and North Korea, has not signed the NPT. The Jewish state
has never confirmed being a nuclear power, but is widely believed to
possess nuclear weapons.

'Unacceptable'

Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister
Prince Saud al-Faisal said: "What surprises us is that at a time when the
International Atomic Energy Agency is intensifying its efforts and
monitoring (NPT) member countries... we see that it continues to ignore
the rejection of Israel in not joining the treaty. "This constitutes a
serious threat to the security and stability of the whole region."