Press TV, Tuesday, 14 September, 2010, 22:31:41 GMT

The head of the Arab League's mission to the IAEA Board of Governor's meetings, Dr. Mikhail Wehbe
The Arab League (AL) says Israel's nuclear activities are to form the center of "heated" debates during the UN nuclear watchdog's meetings.

The United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Board of Governors began to meet in Vienna on Monday.

The Arab group and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) -- which refuses to ally itself with the major superpowers -- were determined to broach Israel's nuclear program during the gatherings, the head of the AL's delegation, Dr. Mikhail Wehbe had told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) ahead of the meetings, independent news outlet the Eurasia Review reported.

The groups resolved to push Israel into the spotlight following a recent "disappointing" report by the IAEA Director General, Yukiya Amano.

Amano had said in his report that Tel Aviv was restricting the agency in examining its nuclear potentials. He had also called on Tel Aviv to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and "place all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive IAEA safeguards" -- the obligations it has been invariably evading.

Since 1958, when Israel began building its Dimona plutonium and uranium processing facility, it has secretly manufactured scores of nuclear warheads, earning reputation as the sole owner of such weapons in the Middle East.

Former US President Jimmy Carter has attested to the existence of the arsenal, which he said includes between 200 to 300 warheads.

Israel, however, has neither confirmed nor denied possessing nuclear arms under a policy of "nuclear ambiguity."

The United States support for Israel has, meanwhile, recurrently helped Tel Aviv evade high-profile condemnation.

Wehbe underscored that the Arab group refuses the West's approach of shifting focus from Israel to Syria and Iran.

The Islamic Republic insists that it has always fully cooperated with the IAEA, reiterating that it has answered all questions regarding its nuclear work.

The IAEA chief has also reported to the agency's Board of Governors about Tehran's nuclear program, confirming that it "continues to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran."

The West, however, continues to allege military ambitions behind Iran's nuclear activities and build up focus on the country during the nuclear watchdog's meetings.

HN/MMA