Merav Zafari Odiz, Israeli ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Image by getty images

An Arab bid to pressurize Israel over its assumed nuclear arsenal failed on Thursday after Washington and other powers united to reject it at the U.N. atomic watchdog’s annual gathering.

The extent of the rejection – with a larger number of ‘no’s than a similar vote last year – will reassure Israel, whose relationship with the United States and other traditional allies has been strained by their support for a nuclear settlement with its enemy Iran.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s office described the rejction of the motion – which called on Israel to join a global anti-nuclear weapons pact – as a “great victory” for its diplomatic efforts.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had told world leaders before the vote: “There is no room for a debate of this sort while the main problem in the Middle East is Iran’s attempts to arm itself with nuclear weapons and its clear declarations of its intention to destroy the state of Israel.”

Nineteen predominantly Arab states wanted the International Atomic Energy Agency’s member states to express concern over Israel’s nuclear capabilities, call on it to join the 1970 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and have the agency regularly report on Israel’s nuclear program.

Israel has never confirmed or denied having nuclear weapons under a policy of ambiguity aimed at deterring longtime Arab and Muslim adversaries.

On Thursday 61 countries voted against the Arab-drafted resolution, 43 in favor and 33 abstained.

Last year, 58 countries voted against the iniative, itself a clearer outcome than in a similar vote a year earlier.

Israel is the only Middle Eastern country outside the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It has said it will only consider joining once it is at peace with its Arab neighbors and Iran.

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