Prof. Uzzi Ilem, head of Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission, told Israel Radio in a telephone interview from Vienna today that the political consequences of a move to oust Israel from the International Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC) would be more serious than being barred from professional and technical information exchange arrangements.
Ilem, who heads the Israeli delegation to the talks where the Iraqis are trying to gather a two-thirds majority to bar Israel, said the vote, expected Thursday, was as yet undecided. A clear extreme resolution stood more chance of being blocked by friendly countries than one merely imposing some form of sanctions, he said.
The IAEC is one of the “cleanest” of the United Nations agencies and Israel’s ousting would be a severe political blow, Ilem said. The absence of formal contacts with Israelis barred from participation in information exchanges, technical and professional study courses and seminars, would be “a pity, but something we could live with,” he said. Ilem said Israel would presumably be able to continue bilateral contacts with other countries.
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