An Arab motion called on Israel to join a global anti-nuclear weapons pact. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the rejection of the motion “a great victory.” Photo: Screenshot.

JNS.org – In a 61-43 vote on Thursday, the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) General Conference rejected a resolution proposed by several Arab states that called for international supervision and inspections of Israel’s nuclear sites.

The Arab campaign, which was led by Egypt and supported by Qatar, Syria, Libya, Iraq, and Iran, called on Israel to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty and place its nuclear facilities under United Nations supervision. The IAEA is the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog.

The vote to reject the resolution was a strong diplomatic victory for Israel after months of lobbying against the measure in dozens of international capitals. Among those who supported Israel were the United States, Canada, Australia, the entire European Union, and several African and Asian allies of the Jewish state.

During an address to the IAEA on Wednesday, the head of Israel’s Atomic Energy Committee, Ze’ev Snir, warned that the resolution would “hurt the credibility of the IAEA by politicizing the organization and reducing its valuable resources.”