U.S. Statement On Nukes Pact Stirs Concerns In Israel

[Purveyor]

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Given the delicate state of relations between the new administrations in Washington and Jerusalem, an American statement last week about the need for Israel to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, or NPT, touched a raw nerve.

The worst-case scenario is that it portends a "grand bargain" with Iran at Israel's expense. In this nightmare development, the American side will say to Tehran: Abandon your nuclear weapons program and we will lean on Israel to dismantle its alleged nuclear arsenal.

Few Israeli officials believe it will come to that. However, there is genuine concern at the hint of a more subtle political linkage: That the U.S. could press Israel on the nuclear issue if it continues to resist a solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of two states for two peoples.

The American statement, bracketing Israel with India, Pakistan and North Korea, came during a U.N. meeting of the 189 signatories of the NPT on May 5.

"Universal adherence to the NPT itself, including by India, Israel, Pakistan and North Korea … remains a fundamental objective of the United States," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller declared.

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JTA: http://jta.org/news/article/2009/05/12/1005092/us-statement-on-nukes-pact-stirs-concerns-in-israel

[bemildred]

1. There is nothing delicate about it.

Israel has had it all its own way for decades, and has just made the mess bigger. It's time to get with the program or get lost.

[lsewpershad]

2. It's about time

that we include Israel in any discussion about nuclear weapons. How long is the US govt going to bury it's head in the sand when it comes to nuclear Israel? Besides, when did the Israeli govt ever listen to the US authorities? How has Israel helped Americam interest, any time in the past?

[damntexdem]

3. great idea -- now extend it to the U.S., Russia, China, France, ... and so on.

Deproliferate!

[LeftishBrit]

4. Agree -- and the UK, India, Pakistan, etc.

But of course even when nuclear countries do agree to a reduction, there are still generally enough nukes left to blow the world up several times.