Israel Matzav

IAEA director general on Middle East, Syria and Iran

I've mentioned previously IAEA director general Yukiya Amano's report to the IAEA board on Monday.

Here are some videotapes of highlights. The first one is the 'Middle East.' Let's go to the videotape.



Two points. First, Israel has allegedly had nuclear weapons since the 1960's and has never used them despite existential threats. Going after a democracy like Israel for nuclear weapons is barking up the wrong tree, regardless of whether it has them or not.

Second, there will never be a nuclear free zone in the Middle East unless it includes all weapons of mass destruction (including biological and chemical) and until all the other countries in the region are at peace with Israel. I would bet on lions lying down with lambs first.

Amano is wasting his time when it comes to Israel.

Here's what he has to say about Syria. Let's go to the videotape.



And if they don't 'positively engage with the agency immediately and without delay,' what are you or anyone else going to do about it?

And that is precisely the problem.

Here's what he has to say about Iran, which is even worse. Let's go to the videotape.



He's not a collaborator like ElBaradei was, but can you see this guy recommending enforcement action against anyone (except possibly Israel)? I can't. He's completely and totally detached. This is one of two countries that's thumbing its nose at him, and he acts like he's giving a law school lecture on tax policy. There's no passion here.

We're talking about a country that even Amano believes is developing nuclear weapons. Where are strength and forcefulness?

There's a full transcript of Amano's remarks here.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:32 AM