Arabs states fail to win IAEA swipe at Israel over alleged nuclear arsenal. (Hat tip: zulubaby.)

VIENNA - An Arab drive to have the United Nations nuclear watchdog condemn Israel over its alleged nuclear arsenal failed on Friday in the face of opposition by the United States and the European Union, diplomats said.

Each year, Arab states push at the annual general conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to condemn Israel over its nuclear arms and demand that it signs up to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) arms control pact.

Israel neither admits nor denies having nuclear weapons. Some experts believe it has 100 to 200 atom bombs.

“The first step here is for Israel to join the NPT and place its [nuclear] facilities under agency safeguards,” Syria said in a statement.

I will pause while your mind reels at the idea that Syria is being treated as an honest player in the nuclear endgame.