International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, 3 Oct 2008

Israel will be closely monitoring the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna on whether the UN nuclear monitoring agency will allow Syria to join its Board of Governors.

According to recent reports, Syria is lobbying to join the board as the representative of the Middle East and South Asia regional group. W

hen Iran stepped down from running on Wednesday because of its unlikely chance of winning, Syria launched a bid to take its place.

According to Israeli officials, it is ridiculous to allow a country onto the 35-member nuclear watchdog board that supposedly built a secret nuclear reactor with North Korean help.

Syria’s biggest competitor is Afghanistan and it seems that most of the 145 countries on the IAEA General Conference are in favor of Afghanistan.

Most of the board’s decisions are made by consensus and with Syria on the board it will be harder to vote on IAEA resolutions citing Syria and its ally Iran for violations, added the Israeli officials, reported The Jerusalem Post.

Copyright © 2006 International Christian Embassy Jerusalem