Egypt accused Israel on Wednesday of “chutzpah”–Hebrew for blatant shamelessness–in response to its representative’s remarks concerning Middle East nuclear disarmament during a meeting headed by the UN’s nuclear watchdog.
“Remarks by the Israeli representative only demonstrate the full meaning of the word chutzpah”, Egypt’s representative Ali Omar Sirry told the 151-nation general conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria. The statement was in response to comments by Israel’s top nuclear official, Shaul Chorev, who questioned Egypt’s commitment to the non-proliferation of nuclear arms.
Through the IAEA, Arab states are currently attempting to pass a non-binding resolution that obliges Israel to endorse the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Israel is the only state in the region that has yet to sign.
Israel has never disclosed details of its nuclear capabilities but has often hinted at possession of an arsenal.
The 151 member nations will consider the bill Thursday. A similar resolution was adopted last year that received a slight majority of votes.
US and other Western allies have voiced concern over the possible impact of such a resolution on the recently-resumed peace process. They also believe approval of the resolution would jeopardize Israel's participation in the 2012 conference on a nuclear-free Middle East.
The NPT came into effect in 1970, after being ratified by 189 countries–not including Israel, India, and Pakistan. North Korea signed the treaty but withdrew later in 2003.
