Informed circles indicated here today that Israel will not accept the United States demand for international inspection of the Nebi Hubi: atomic reactor which was built with the help of the U.S.A.
It was made clear that Israel does not object to the principle of atomic energy control–but insists on knowing who the controller will be. Israel wants renewal of the existing bilateral pact between Israel and the United States, which was signed in 1959 and is to expire next July. But Israel objects to inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency
It was stressed here that no Arab state has accepted the principle of international inspection as Israel has done. On the other hand, the IAEA’s regional headquarters are locating in Cairo, to which, of course, Israel has no access. Furthermore, it was pointed out, Israel is not on the IAEA’s board of directors, which includes representatives of Egypt, Iraq, Morocco and Tunisia.Thus, it was noted here, it is possible that an inspection team to be seat to Israel could include representatives from these hostile Arab countries.
Emphasis was also laid here on the fact that it is well known that the Nebi Rubin reactor is used only for research and training, and that it has been visited regularly by scientists from the U.S.A.
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