Israel says no point in pressuring it to sign NPT


Reuters April 15, 2010

JERUSALEM: Israel reiterated its resistance to signing the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty on Wednesday after US President Barack Obama said he wanted it to be universally observed.

By staying outside the 1970 NPT, Israel has not had to forswear nuclear weapons or admit inspectors to facilities, which foreign experts believe have produced plutonium for up to 200 warheads.

The United States has acquiesced to Israel's nuclear opacity, angering many Arabs and Muslims especially in view of Western efforts to curb Iran's uranium enrichment plans.

"To our friends and our allies we say 'there is no room to pressure Israel into signing the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty'," Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said in a speech.

"Israel has never threatened to destroy other countries or nations, whereas Iran today, and in the past also Syria, Libya and Iraq that have signed the treaty, have broken it systematically with explicit threats on Israel's existence."

On Tuesday, Obama was asked at the close of a U.S.-hosted nuclear security summit about the prospect of putting pressure on Israel to come clean about its capabilities.

"As far as Israel goes, I'm not going to comment on their programme," he told reporters. "What I'm going to point to is the fact that consistently we have urged all countries to become members of the NPT."

The United Nations holds an NPT review conference next month at which Israel is expected to be singled out for censure. India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed, have also refused to sign the NPT.

Israel says it would consider entering a deal to rid the Middle East of weapons of mass destruction once there is comprehensive regional peace. Some of its neighbours insist Israel must disarm first.

COMMENTS (1)

Usman | 14 years ago | Reply “Israel has never threatened to destroy other countries or nations". Are you sure Mr. Ehud Barak? so do you think people are that lame and ignorant of history? or do you think what is being done in Palestine is not destroying a nation but instead building up one. Oh yes may be Israel never said or threatened to do it 'cos saying is something apart of being doing it actually. So as Israel never threatened anyone and instead of threatening are just occupying lands and killing millions of innocents. This does not come into threatening for Israel I presume. However it may be, let us put forth the story aof the greater Israel. So Mr Ehud, can you please confess and make sure that there is no such plan with Israel of achieveing something known as The Greater Israel. Dont play with words Mr Ehud. We very well are aware of your history. What libya, syria, egypt, iran or iraq did, it does not come even close to what you are doing in palestine. Or may I say it is due to all those ill deads of theirs that they are under the wrath of God in the shape of Israel.
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