11 March 2010
Israel and Syria have both expressed their intentions to develop civilian nuclear programmes. The announcement came at an international conference on civilian nuclear energy at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris on Tuesday.
It is likely to impact the strategic landscape of a region fraught with territorial tensions and that of Iran’s alleged pursuit of a covert nuclear weapons programme. The Iranian context is especially important since Israel has been pushing hard for sanctions against Tehran, which insists its nuclear activities are only restricted to development of a civilian-use energy programme.
By seeking civilian nuclear energy, Israel has inevitably risked exposure of its undeclared existing nuclear weapon programme to international inspections. Currently a non-signatory of the Non Proliferation Treaty, Israel will come under pressure to sign the NPT besides opening its existing nuclear facilities to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Although Israel has been a member of the IAEA it is loathe to allow inspections. Besides, evidence of its nuclear weapon programme will only confirm charges of double standards and render hollow its argument against Iran. That is why Israeli Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau in a contradictory statement has said, “we don’t see a reason” to allow IAEA inspectors to these sensitive sites, while agreeing to open the facilities. Israel’s plans to develop its “’imminent” nuclear energy programme is based on environmental reasons, nuclear energy being a clean source with the least adverse impact on the environment. Israel’s proposal of a collaborative civilian nuclear initiative with Jordan and France, has been presently rebuffed by Amman that has expresses its reluctance to be draw into this dangerous equation.
Jordan’s Atomic Energy Commission chief Khaled Toukan has said it is premature to discuss cooperation with Israel on this front, “before a solution is found to the Arab-Israeli conflicts”.
Syria’s forays into the civilian nuclear ranks along with Israel have swelled the number of nuclear energy contenders in the region. The UAE has already initiated its own civilian nuclear energy programme with international assistance and IAEA involvement. Others may not be so transparent though and the danger of proliferation and misuse of nuclear technology is also present.
Syria is believed to lack financial and technological capability to pursue a civilian nuclear programme. Besides, it could face opposition from Israel. Previously, Israel had struck an unused military installation in Syria in 2008 that it alleged was the site of a plutonium-producing reactor. Given their history of conflict and continuing animosity, Israel may well raise objections even if Syria acquires a civilian programme at some later point. However, there can’t be different criteria for Israel and Syria. Israel has inadvertently positioned itself at a crossroads. By doing so it has also made Washington’s task of imposing sanctions on Iran difficult. Perhaps it’s time for the US to realise the implications of backing a nuclear-armed ally like Israel while clamouring for sanctions against Iran.
Source: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/editorial/2010/March/editorial_March21.xml§ion=editorial&col=
Israel and Syria have both expressed their intentions to develop civilian nuclear programmes. The announcement came at an international conference on civilian nuclear energy at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris on Tuesday.
It is likely to impact the strategic landscape of a region fraught with territorial tensions and that of Iran’s alleged pursuit of a covert nuclear weapons programme. The Iranian context is especially important since Israel has been pushing hard for sanctions against Tehran, which insists its nuclear activities are only restricted to development of a civilian-use energy programme.
By seeking civilian nuclear energy, Israel has inevitably risked exposure of its undeclared existing nuclear weapon programme to international inspections. Currently a non-signatory of the Non Proliferation Treaty, Israel will come under pressure to sign the NPT besides opening its existing nuclear facilities to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Although Israel has been a member of the IAEA it is loathe to allow inspections. Besides, evidence of its nuclear weapon programme will only confirm charges of double standards and render hollow its argument against Iran. That is why Israeli Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau in a contradictory statement has said, “we don’t see a reason” to allow IAEA inspectors to these sensitive sites, while agreeing to open the facilities. Israel’s plans to develop its “’imminent” nuclear energy programme is based on environmental reasons, nuclear energy being a clean source with the least adverse impact on the environment. Israel’s proposal of a collaborative civilian nuclear initiative with Jordan and France, has been presently rebuffed by Amman that has expresses its reluctance to be draw into this dangerous equation.
Jordan’s Atomic Energy Commission chief Khaled Toukan has said it is premature to discuss cooperation with Israel on this front, “before a solution is found to the Arab-Israeli conflicts”.
Syria’s forays into the civilian nuclear ranks along with Israel have swelled the number of nuclear energy contenders in the region. The UAE has already initiated its own civilian nuclear energy programme with international assistance and IAEA involvement. Others may not be so transparent though and the danger of proliferation and misuse of nuclear technology is also present.
Syria is believed to lack financial and technological capability to pursue a civilian nuclear programme. Besides, it could face opposition from Israel. Previously, Israel had struck an unused military installation in Syria in 2008 that it alleged was the site of a plutonium-producing reactor. Given their history of conflict and continuing animosity, Israel may well raise objections even if Syria acquires a civilian programme at some later point. However, there can’t be different criteria for Israel and Syria. Israel has inadvertently positioned itself at a crossroads. By doing so it has also made Washington’s task of imposing sanctions on Iran difficult. Perhaps it’s time for the US to realise the implications of backing a nuclear-armed ally like Israel while clamouring for sanctions against Iran.
Source: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/editorial/2010/March/editorial_March21.xml§ion=editorial&col=
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