Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo in Israel
Status of the CTBT in the Middle East – click for interactive map.
Our basic intention is to ratify the CTBT. It's a matter of when.
“We are continually developing and improving our system,” Zerbo said. Israel is among almost 90 counties which host stations in the IMS. With two fully operational seismic stations and a radionuclide laboratory, Israel is making an important contribution to the network, he said.

Inside auxiliary seismic station AS48, Eilath, one of three IMS facilties hosted by Israel.
From left: Shaul Chorev, Director of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission, CTBTO Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo and Merav Zafary-Odiz, Israel's Permanent Representative to the CTBTO.
Zerbo also met with Tzipi Livni, former Minister of Justice and Foreign Affairs, as well as with other high-level officials. He also briefed journalists in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Ramat Gan during the visit from 12-14 April.

Tzipi Livni, former Minister of Justice and Foreign Affairs (right) and CTBTO Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo
Israel’s ratification is not a matter of if but when -- I am here working on the when
Zerbo was in Israel to open a high-level segment, as part of a workshop to evaluate the outcome of the IFE14 on-site inspection simulation exercise, in which around 100 verification experts from 30 countries took part.
High-level segment at the on-site inspection workshop in Ramat-Gan, Israel, from 12 to 16 April 2015.
Through the simulation exercise we’ve proved that we have mastered all components of the verification regime to detect nuclear tests.
In the framework of the close technical cooperation with the CTBTO, Israel also hosted an infrasound experiment in 2011 (see video below).
Interview with the BBC in Jerusalem on 14 April 2015
15 Apr 2015