UN General Assembly Resolution 43/80 (December 1988)

Israel's acceptance of the previous resolution did not mean that the Arab states, with the exception of Egypt, would refrain sponsoring the following resolution. As usual, Israel was the only nation to whom such a resolution applied. It was carried by a vote of 99 in favor, 2 against with a growing number of abstentions. This time 51 nations abstained. They included most of the European nations, Japan and many Latin American and third world countries. Egypt did vote in favor. Text:

The General Assembly,

Bearing in mind its previous resolutions on Israeli nuclear armament, the latest of which is 42/44 of 30 November 1987,

Recalling its resolution 42/28 of 30 November 1987, in which, inter alia, the Council called upon Israel urgently to place all its nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards,

Noting that only Israel has been specifically called upon by the Security Council to place its nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy 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 into consideration resolution GC (XXXII)/RES/487 of 23 September 1988 adopted by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in which the General Conference strongly condemned the continued refusal by Israel to renounce the possession of nuclear weapons and to submit all its nuclear facilities to the Agency's safeguards in compliance with Security Council resolution 487 (1981),

Deeply alarmed by the information with regard to the continuing production, development and acquisition of nuclear weapons by Israel,

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 to develop nuclear weapons and their delivery systems,

Deeply concerned that the declared Israeli policy of attacking and destroying nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes is a part of its nuclear armament policy,

1. Reiterates its condemnation of Israel's refusal to renounce any possession of nuclear weapons;

2. Reiterates also its condemnation of the co-operation between Israel and South Africa;

3. Requests once more the Security Council to take urgent and effective measures to ensure that Israel complies with Council resolution 487 (1981);

4. Demands once more that Israel place all its nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards;

5. Calls upon all States and organizations that have not yet done so to discontinue co-operating with and giving assistance to Israel in the nuclear field;

6. Reiterates its request to the International Atomic Energy Agency to suspend any scientific co-operation with Israel that could contribute to its nuclear capabilities;

7. Requests also the International Atomic Energy Agency to inform the SecretaryGeneral of any steps Israel may take to place its nuclear facilities under Agency safeguards;

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

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

Sources: The United Nations

UN General Assembly Resolutions: Resolution 43/80

(December 7, 1988)