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UN General Assembly Resolutions: Resolution 42/44

(November 30, 1987)

At the end of November and the beginning of December, the UN General Assembly began to adopt the annual resolutions dealing with the Arab-Israel conflict, Palestinian refugees and Israeli nuclear armaments. The ritual has become a permanent fixture in the UN calendar. Israel was curious to see the size of the votes. On resolution 42/44, Israeli Nuclear Armament, the number of those who abstained rose to 52, 2 opposed (Israel and the U.S.) and 97 in favor. Resolution 42/28 was adopted without a vote, on the resolution dealing with Question of Palestine, the Arabs were able to muster their usual majority of some 133 nations, 2 against with between 18 to 27 abstentions (mainly Western European nations). The resolution dealing with UNRWA also received a majority of some 140 nations in favor, including many who contributed nothing to the budget to cover the expenditures entailed in the resolution they have voted in favor.

The General Assembly,

Bearing in mind its previous resolutions on Israeli nuclear armament, the latest of which is 41/93 of 4 December 1986,

Recalling resolution 41/48 of 3 December 1986, 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 further Security Council resolution 487 (1981) of 19 June 1981, 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,

Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on Israeli nuclear armament,

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 (XXXI)/470 adopted by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in which it called upon Israel to place all its nuclear facilities under Agency safeguards,

Deeply alarmed by recent information in 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. Calls upon the States and organizations that have not yet done so to discontinue co-operating with and giving assistance to Israel in the nuclear field;

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

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

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

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


Sources: The United Nations