Photo Credit: Kobi Gideon / GPO
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the renaming ceremony of the Negev Nuclear Research Facility near Dimona, August 29 2018.

The head of Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission, Ze’ev Snir, says the Jewish State is taking action to protect its nuclear sites.

Snir told the 62nd General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna on Tuesday that Israel cannot ignore repeated threats from Iran and its terrorist proxies, who say they will attack those sites.

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“The Islamic Republic of Iran openly and explicitly calls for Israel’s destruction,” he said in a statement. “Iran and Syria pose significant proliferation threats to the region, and the world.

“Syria built an undeclared, secretive military nuclear reactor at Dair Alzour,” Snir warned. “Such concealment of illicit activities, is a clear violation of the NPT and Syria’s safeguards obligations. The IAEA and the international community should have taken action ten years ago, and must take action now.”

The covert Iranian nuclear weapons program, he said, is “a documented fact.”

He pointed out that Israeli intelligence uncovered a full-blown nuclear development program that in fact was operating with the intent to create nuclear weapons of mass destruction.

“Iran lied to the Agency, and to the world,” he said. “We cannot ignore the repeated and explicit threats made by Iran and its proxies, to attack Israel’s nuclear sites. These outrageous threats require Israel to take action and continue to protect and defend its nuclear facilities.”

The facilities, he said, are “constantly upgraded and reinforced in line with IAEA safety guidelines, in order to withstand any attack.”

Israel has been an active member of the Agency since its establishment in 1957, according to Snir’s published remarks. “Israel actively participates in, and regularly contributes to the IAEA Safety Standards Committees. Israel plays an active role in various exercises led by the IAEA Incident and Emergency Center, as well as in meetings on emergency preparedness.”

Snir underscored Israel’s “significant collaboration” with the IAEA Technical Cooperation program, and its contribution to the TC Fund each year.

“This year, the Government of Israel decided to provide the Agency with an extra-budgetary financial contribution,” he pointed out, saying it attested to Israel’s longstanding support for the IAEA’s efforts.

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Hana Levi Julian is a Middle East news analyst with a degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from Southern Connecticut State University. A past columnist with The Jewish Press and senior editor at Arutz 7, Ms. Julian has written for Babble.com, Chabad.org and other media outlets, in addition to her years working in broadcast journalism.