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UN General Assembly Resolutions: Resolution 46/39

(December 6, 1991)

Despite the opening of the peace process, the Madrid Peace Conference and the new reality in the Middle East after the Gulf War, there were no major changes in anti-Israel voting patterns. This resolution, dealing with Israel's nuclear armament, was adopted by a majority of 76 for, 3 against, 75 abstentions.

The General Assembly,

Bearing in mind its previous resolutions on Israeli nuclear armament, the latest of which is resolution 45/63 of 4 December 1990,

Recalling its resolution 44/108 of 15 December 1989, in which, inter alia, it called for placing all nuclear facilities in the region under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, pending the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East,

Recalling also that the Security Council, in its resolution 487 (1981), called upon Israel urgently to place all its nuclear facilities under Agency safeguards,

Noting with grave concern Israel's persistent refusal to commit itself not to manufacture or acquire nuclear weapons, despite repeated calls by the General Assembly, the Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency,

Taking note of resolution GC (XXXV)/RES/570, adopted on 20 September 1991 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency,

Taking into consideration the final document on international security and disarmament adopted by the Ninth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Belgrade from 4 to 7 September 1989, and in particular its paragraph 12, which relates to Israel's nuclear capabilities,

Deeply alarmed by the information with regard to the continuing production, development and acquisition of nuclear weapons by Israel and its testing of their delivery systems in the Mediterranean and elsewhere, thus threatening the peace and security of the region, and equally alarmed by reports of Israel's placing on alert its nuclear arsenal during conflicts in the Middle East,

Aware of the grave consequences that endanger international peace and security as a result of Israel's development and acquisition of nuclear weapons and Israel's collaboration with South Africa in developing their delivery systems,

Deeply concerned that Israel has not committed itself to refrain from attacking or threatening to attack safeguarded nuclear facilities,

1. Deplores Israel's refusal to renounce possession of nuclear weapons;

2. Expresses grave concern at the cooperation between Israel and South Africa in the military nuclear fields;

3. Expresses its deep concern regarding the information on Israel's continuing production, development and acquisition of nuclear weapons and testing of their delivery systems;

4. Reaffirms that Israel should promptly apply Security Council resolution 487 (1981), in which the Council, inter alia, requested it to place all nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and to refrain from attacking or threatening to attack nuclear facilities;

5. Calls upon all States and organizations that have not yet done so not to cooperate with or give assistance to Israel that could enhance its nuclear-weapons capability;

6. Requests the International Atomic Energy Agency to inform the Secretary-General of any steps Israel may take to place its nuclear facilities under Agency safeguards;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to follow closely Israeli nuclear activities and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session;

8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-seventh session the item entitled "Israeli nuclear armament".


Sources: The United Nations