Statement by the League of Arab States at the 4th session of the conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and other WMD

Statement by the League of Arab States at the 4th session of the conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and other WMD

The statement notes Israel's inflexibility as an obstacle to convening this conference and expressed disappointment for the failure of the 2015 and 2022 NPT RevCon, which underscores the urgency of the conference’s role. It notes the statement made by the Israeli government regarding dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza that underlines the need for measures to stop attacks violating international law and humanitarian law. It highlights Israel’s absence from the Conference reflects its lack of determination and political will to work towards creating a zone. It noted that the Arab League had emphasized its commitment to rid the Middle East of nuclear weapons in Resolution 3178 in 1974 and subsequent initiatives since 1973. The League called on the conference to reconsider its decision to prevent the participation of regional organizations by including the Arab League as an observer in the closed sessions without the right to participate in decision-making. It highlighted the League's participation would add significant dimensions to the conference work.