Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Ron Prosor, addressed the Security Council yesterday (May 7) during a special debate on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The debate took place one decade after the UN Security Council passed resolution 1540 to enforce measures against the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their means of delivery to terrorists.
Ambassador Prosor said: “The world must do more to prevent dangers resulting from transferring weapons of mass destruction into the hands of terrorists, especially in the Middle East.”
Prosor discussed the Israeli Defense Forces interception of the Klos-C, which was carrying Iranian and Syrian-made weapons to Gaza: “This isn’t the first time that Iran – the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism – has been caught red-handed.”
On Syria, Israel’s representative said: “This is a regime that lies in bed with Iran and sees no problem with lying to the international community. Failure to verify that Syria is complying with the elimination of its chemical weapons, could have deadly consequences if Syria’s stockpiles fall into the hands of terrorist groups like Hezbollah”. Syria has officially begun to diminish its chemical weapons stockpile, but reports of chemical attacks by the Syrian Army still continue to emanate from Syria.
Ambassador Ron Prosor further said: “As we speak, smugglers are transporting cargoes loaded with rockets, missiles, and explosives across the Middle East. One of those rockets could spark the next major conflict. One of those missiles could trigger the next terror attack. One of those shipments could carry a dirty bomb.”
In January this year Chief of the IDF Intelligence Directorate Major General Aviv Kochavi stated that: “About 170,000 rockets and missiles are pointed at Israel, and they are deadlier than ever. Many of these weapons can be fired deep into Israel’s territory.” Maj. Gen. Kochavi estimated that Hezbollah now possesses 100,000 rockets and missiles threatening Israel from its northern border. These rockets are primarily supplied by Iran, and one of the main smuggling routes is via Syria.