By Bill Fletcher Jr. | SACOBSERVER.COM WIRE SERVICES

(NNPA) - Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi has proven to be as unpredictable as ever. To the surprise of many international observers, Libya has agreed to step away from creating, obtaining or possessing weapons of mass destruction. While the Bush administration has proclaimed this development to be evidence of a great victory for administration policy, Libya's Qaddafi has taken a somewhat different view, seeing in this decision a successful step toward breaking the U.S.-led blockade against his country.

The Libyan decision, however, carries with it even greater potential significance that has received only limited attention. As raised by both Iran and Egypt, the Libyan decision raises the question as to what steps Israel will now take - if any - to eliminate its own arsenal of weapons of mass destruction.

It is almost a forbidden subject in U.S. political discourse, but it is well known that Israel possesses weapons of mass destruction. Given Israel's projected image as a friend of democracy, it was noteworthy that Israel worked with apartheid South Africa to produce a nuclear weapon. With the advent of a democratic South Africa, that country took steps to de-nuclearize. Israel continues to remain silent about its weapons capacity.

It was odd during the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq that there was little discussion coming out of Washington, D.C., and specifically the Bush administration, concerning turning the Middle East into a nuclear-free zone. The entire discussion focused on what weapons Saddam Hussein possessed or was thought to possess. Similar such discussions have taken place for years centered entirely on the capabilities of various Arab and Muslim states rather than raising the larger question of eliminating all weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East and bringing about a lasting peace.

With Libya's announcement, some commentators have raised questions as to Qaddafi's intentions in making this offer. Qaddafi's intentions are irrelevant; it is the action or actions that are critical. If Libya wishes to eliminate such weapons, that brings the Middle East much closer to peace. Yet, without open disclosure by Israel and a commitment to do likewise, such efforts will come to naught.

This entire matter raises a very thorny discussion as to whether there should be one standard with regard to weapons of mass destruction. There seems to be an assumption that the handling of weapons of mass destruction, including who possesses them, is either up to the U.S. or in the hands of whoever happens to already have them in sufficient quantity so as to discourage further discussion. Worse yet, it often appears that there is a presumption that good intentions with regard to weapons of mass destruction (or with military matters generally) rest on only one side.

Qaddafi's decision presents the Middle East with a critical moment. Not only might this provide a context to eliminate weapons of mass destruction, but it might as well open up opportunities to review what steps are necessary to reduce tensions. Central to reducing tensions, of course, is the resolution of the Palestinian people's right to national self-determination. The nuclear weapons in the hands of Israel, however, must be part of the discussion. No one and no nation can be exempt from scrutiny if there is to be a just and lasting peace.

Bill Fletcher Jr. is president of TransAfrica Forum, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit educational and organizing center formed to raise awareness in the United States about issues facing the nations and peoples of Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. He also is co-chair of the anti-war coalition, United for Peace and Justice (www.unitedforpeace.org). He can be reached at bfletcher@transafricaforum.org.