Director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency Dr. Mohammed ElBaradei said Tuesday that he has no power to pressure Israel on Nuclear issues.
ElBaradei arrived Tuesday in Israel for a two-day visit in which he will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Health Minister Dan Naveh, and the head of the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission.
‘I would like to see Israel supporting the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, I would like to see Israel sign an additional agreement committing it to disclose information on any potential nuclear-related exports, but I have no power to pressure’ ElBaradei said.
While realizing that there is no policy change in Israel regarding nuclear issues, according to his spokesman Mark Gwozdecky, ElBaradei is ‘welling to invest time attempting to make progress.’
Taking the occasion of ElBaradei arrival, Israel is expected to announce Wednesday a new national program for nuclear medicine that is expected to win financial and technical support from the IAEA.
In his meeting with the head of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission, ElBaradei is expected to invite Israel to join an international conference under IAEA patronage to discuss the establishment of a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East. He is also expected to raise the idea of the IAEA sending inspectors to monitor Israel’s nuclear activities.
Israel strongly objects to any international inspections of its nuclear facility in Dimona.
The IAEA head will deliver Wednesday a speech at Hebrew University to a select audience of academics, government officials and press.
Israeli officials will raise the issue of Iran’s nuclear program and IAEA efforts to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Israeli nuclear Whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu, who was released around two months ago after serving 18 years in prison for disclosing information over Dimona reactor, said Tuesday that Israel should make its reactor public.
‘The Israeli government should change its policy and open the reactor; they should stop cheating the world, stop cheating Israeli citizens and stop cheating the Arab citizens.’ Vanunu said.
Israel’s official policy is to not confirm or deny having nuclear weapons, insisting that nuclear disarmament in the region should come at the end of a successful peace process.
Egypt is leading efforts to anounce the region a nuclear-free zone, demanding for Israel to cooperate with IAEA.
Arab media sources expressed concerns that ElBaradei’s visit to Israel would be used as a good PR campaign to ease International pressure on israel concerning its nuclear weapons’ program.
no-Israeli reports indicates that Israel developed more than 100 nuclear heads.
