Middle East nuclear weapon free zone

The Middle East nuclear weapon free zone (MENWFZ) is a proposed agreement similar to other nuclear-weapon-free zones in other regions. Steps towards the establishment of such a zone began in the 1960s led to a joint declaration by Egypt and Iran in 1974 which resulted in a General Assembly resolution (broadened in 1990 through the Mubarak Initiative to cover all weapons of mass destruction). Following the 1995 NPT Review Conference, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) held a series of meetings involving experts and academics to consider ways to advance this process.[1]

Such a zone would strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), would help to promote global nuclear disarmament and would also help the Middle East peace process as substantial confidence-building measures.[2]

For the Egyptian government (until the political changes of 2011), a MENWFZ was seen as a central source of pressure on Israel to relinquish its ambiguous nuclear policy, and to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).[3] Until the Iranian nuclear program, Israel was believed to be the only Mideast country to have a nuclear deterrence capability, developed in the 1960s.[4] As Avner Cohen, Gerald Steinberg and other experts have noted, Israeli policy has emphasized the link nuclear demilitarization to a comprehensive peace settlement including Palestinian issues and with countires and potential threats in the region, including Syria and Iran.[5] Israel maintains a veil of “studied ambiguity” (“amimut”) [4] about its nuclear arsenal, and has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.[6]

Four countries in the Middle East have been found in non-compliance with their IAEA safeguards obligations under the NPT: Iraq, Libya, Iran, and Syria. Of these cases, Iran and Syria remain unresolved.

Following pressure from Egypt and the Arab League, the 2010 NPT Review Conference called for holding a conference on a MENWFZ which would primarily press Israel to end its policy of a ambiguity. Finland planned to host such an event in 2012.[7] However, no agreement was reached on the agenda and other issues, and the conference was called off in November 2012.[8][9]

An international group of concerned citizens, including former members of the Israeli Knesset, responded to the lack of progress in official talks by organizing an International Conference For A WMD-Free Middle East. It was held in Haifa in December 2013.

References

  1. ↑ Steinberg, Gerald M. (1998). Thakur, Ramesh, ed. The Obstacles to a Middle East Nuclear Weapon Free Zone. Nuclear Weapons-Free Zones. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 0-333-73980-9.
  2. ↑ "Toward a Middle East Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone". European Dialogue.
  3. ↑ Karawan, Ibrahim (1998). Thakur, Ramesh, ed. The Case for a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in the Middle East. Nuclear Weapons-Free Zones. London: Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-73980-9.
  4. 1 2 Cohen, Aver (2010). The Worst Kept Secret: Israel's Bargain With The Bomb. Columbia University Press.
  5. ↑ "Middle East Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone". Federation of American Scientists.
  6. ↑ Telhami, Shibley; Kull, Steven (January 15, 2012). "Preventing a Nuclear Iran, Peacefully". The New York Times.
  7. ↑ "Finland will host 2012 conference to start talks on nuclear weapons-free Mideast". European Dialogue.
  8. ↑ "Diplomats: Mideast nuke talks called off". USA Today. 11 November 2012.
  9. ↑ "Israel rejects UN call for nuclear transparency". RT. December 5, 2012.


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