Cdude
31 mei 2010, 15:04
Israel says it will not take part in a conference aimed at achieving a nuclear-arms free Middle East, proposed at a UN meeting in New York.
Nearly 200 nations, signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), backed plans for the meeting in 2012.
In a document agreed at the talks, Israel was singled out for criticism.
Some 189 nations agreed to the 28-page document following a month-long conference on strengthening the NPT, the cornerstone of global disarmament efforts.
The document urged Israel to sign the NPT, but did not mention Iran, a nation widely suspected of having a nuclear-weapons programme.
Analysts say this was a diplomatic victory for Iran, which denies seeking a nuclear weapon.
The US was among the nations who agreed the document, but President Barack Obama warned that he did not agree with Israel's treatment.
"We strongly oppose efforts to single out Israel, and will oppose actions that jeopardise Israel's national security," he said.
Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon promised that his country's co-operation with the US would remain unchanged, but he condemned the document as "insignificant".
Nearly 200 nations, signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), backed plans for the meeting in 2012.
In a document agreed at the talks, Israel was singled out for criticism.
Some 189 nations agreed to the 28-page document following a month-long conference on strengthening the NPT, the cornerstone of global disarmament efforts.
The document urged Israel to sign the NPT, but did not mention Iran, a nation widely suspected of having a nuclear-weapons programme.
Analysts say this was a diplomatic victory for Iran, which denies seeking a nuclear weapon.
The US was among the nations who agreed the document, but President Barack Obama warned that he did not agree with Israel's treatment.
"We strongly oppose efforts to single out Israel, and will oppose actions that jeopardise Israel's national security," he said.
Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon promised that his country's co-operation with the US would remain unchanged, but he condemned the document as "insignificant".