General Conference

Date: 19 September 2006

GC(50)/22

General Distribution

Original: English

Fiftieth regular session
Item 21 of the agenda (GC(50)/21)

Israeli Nuclear Capabilities and Threat

1. On 18 September 2006, the Director General received a letter dated 15 September 2006 from the Dean of the Arab Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman, on behalf of the Arab Member States of the Agency, relating to item 21 of the agenda of the Conference, "Israeli Nuclear Capabilities and Threat". 2. As requested therein, the letter and its attachment are herewith circulated.

GC(50)/22 Annex 1 Page 1

Text of letter dated 15 September 2006 from the Dean of the Arab Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman
With reference to document GC(50)/18, dated 12 September 2006, annexing a letter from the Resident Representative of Israel and its attachment stating Israel's position on the item entitled "Israeli Nuclear Capabilities and Threat", which the International Atomic Energy Agency has circulated to Member States, I have the honour, on behalf of the Arab Member States of the International Atomic Energy Agency, to enclose the response of these States to what is contained in the aforementioned document, and should like to ask you to circulate it to the Member States of the Agency.

(signed)

Salim bin Mohamed Al-Riyami Dean of the Arab Diplomatic Corps Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman

Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei Director General IAEA

GC(50)/22 Annex 1 Page 2

Text stating the Arab Group's response to what is contained in the letter of the Resident Representative of Israel to the International Atomic Energy Agency concerning the inclusion of an item entitled "Israeli Nuclear Capabilities and Threat" in the agenda of the 50th session of the General Conference of the Agency The Arab Group confirms that, despite successive United Nations General Assembly and Security Council and International Atomic Energy Agency General Conference resolutions reflecting international consensus on disarmament and the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, and the importance of universal implementation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and after the accession of all the Arab States to it, Israel continues to insist on not acceding to this Treaty and, according to various reports, Israel is developing an advanced nuclear programme for military purposes, which has a negative impact on peace, security and stability in the Middle East region and on efforts to prevent proliferation in the region. Thus, the Arab Group confirms the importance of including the item on Israeli nuclear capability on the agenda of the General Conference to ensure that the International Atomic Energy Agency continues to play its role in dealing with this important issue, which is a cause of concern to the international community as a whole and is an additional cause of tension in the region. The Arab Group deplores what is contained in the letter from the Israeli Resident Representative, which is expressed once again in language that is unacceptable and far removed from the rules of discourse and the customs of diplomacy.