UN nuclear conference votes down anti-Israel resolution, Netanyahu hails 'great victory'

VIENNA – An Arab-led attempt to censure Israel over its undeclared nuclear arsenal has failed at the U.N atomic agency's annual meeting and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is hailing the result as a "great victory."

Like in past years, Arab states, backed by Iran and many nonaligned nations, forced a vote Thursday on their resolution expressing "concern about the Israeli nuclear capabilities" and urging it to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. And like at most previous International Atomic Energy Agency meetings, those opposed were in the majority — but this time by a more lopsided margin.

Of the 165 IAEA member nations present for the vote, 43 were in favor, 61 were against and 33 abstained.

Noting support for his country had grown "significantly," Netanyahu thanked countries voting against the resolution.