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'Making Israel sign nuclear treaty won't be miracle cure for world ills'
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, and Reuters
Tags: Iran, Haaretz TV, Israel News 

Jerusalem officials were surprised to learn on Wednesday of a U.S. call to Israel to join the the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the global pact meant to limit the spread of atomic weapons.

"The Non-Proliferation Treaty has failed to prevent any country that wanted to from obtaining nuclear weapons," a source said in Jerusalem said.

"The examples of Libya, Iraq, the current example of Iran, which signed the treaty, only demonstrates this; therefore, it is hard to understand the insistence that Israel should sign the treaty as a miracle cure for the world's ills."
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Speaking on the second day of a two-week meeting comprising the 189 signatories of the NPT, Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller urged Israel, India, Pakistan and North Korea to sign the pact.

"Universal adherence to the NPT itself, including by India, Israel, Pakistan and North Korea ... remains a fundamental objective of the United States," Gottemoeller told the meeting, which hopes to agree on an agenda and plan to overhaul the treaty at a review conference next year.

Israel's Foreign Ministry is still checking whether Gottemoeller was quoted correctly, and contact the relevant American officials later Wednesday to clear up the matter.

"As far as we are concerned, there is no change to the close dialogue we have with Washington," Foreign Ministry spokesman Yossi Levy said.

Speaking to reporters, Gottemoeller declined to say whether Washington would take any new steps to press Israel to join the treaty and give up any nuclear weapons it has. Israel neither confirms nor denies whether it has what arms control experts assume to be a sizable atomic arsenal.

"The administration of President Barack Obama was encouraging all holdouts to join the treaty," she said.

On Tuesday, Rose also defended a U.S.-India civilian nuclear deal, which developing nations have complained rewards New Delhi for staying outside the NPT.

Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan have never signed the treaty. North Korea withdrew from it in 2003 and tested a nuclear device in 2006.

At the NPT meeting, developing countries have criticized the endorsement of the U.S.-India nuclear agreement by the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, an informal club of the world's top producers of nuclear-related technology.

The group agreed in September to lift a ban on nuclear trade with India, imposed after New Delhi's first nuclear test in 1974.

Delegates from poor nations complain that the endorsement was tantamount to rewarding India for remaining outside the treaty and secretly developing nuclear weapons. In contrast, they say, developing states are denied access to sensitive technology because they are often deemed proliferation risks.

Gottemoeller defended the agreement. "India is coming closer to the non-proliferation regime," she said.

She cited India's willingness to work with Washington in pushing for a binding international treaty that would prohibit the further production of bomb-grade nuclear material and by improving its nuclear export controls.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Ali Hosseini on Monday railed against the United States and what he said was its continued nuclear support for the "Zionist regime" (Israel). Western diplomats called this an attempt to divert attention away from its own nuclear program.

In failing to mention Iran even once in her speech, Gottemoeller broke from a tradition established by the administration of former President George W. Bush, which had used NPT meetings to criticize Iran and North Korea.

Gottemoeller said that Iran came up indirectly in her statement when she spoke of the need for "consequences for those breaking the rules or withdrawing from the treaty."

Obama has offered Iran's leaders direct talks on a wide range of issues, including its nuclear program. Tehran has reacted coolly to the U.S. overtures nearly three decades after Washington severed ties with Tehran during a hostage crisis.

The West suspects Iran is developing weapons under cover of a civilian atomic energy program, a charge Tehran denies.

Gottemoeller also reiterated commitments to disarmament that Obama made in a speech in Prague last month. She said the United States would continue its two-decade long moratorium on testing nuclear explosives and urged others to follow suit.

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      1.   The Americans are being conned 00:03  |  Robert 06/05/09
      2.   Unjoined Treaties 00:16  |  Christopher 06/05/09
      3.   Whooaaa.... 01:04  |  Carmen 06/05/09
      4.   U.S. should lead the way - Iran must be made 01:22  |  *BEN JABO 06/05/09
      5.   israel atomic industry 01:59  |  Muskens 06/05/09
      6.   Look at the US visa forms and you`ll get it. 02:15  |  Fortuna Benmayor 06/05/09
      7.   Its About Time 02:40  |  Janice 06/05/09
      8.   Nuclear arms race 02:50  |  BazMann 06/05/09
      9.   don`t they wish 03:29  |  L Sweeny 06/05/09
      10.   Obama is a joke 03:40  |  Joey 06/05/09
      11.   It would be in Israel`s real interest to do so 03:50  |  Rod 06/05/09
      12.   tell the U.S. to get rid of all of its nukes first 04:28  |  Mark 06/05/09
      13.   Can Israel declare nuclear weapons & join the NPT without disarmi 04:41  |  netsp 06/05/09
      14.   Axis of.... 05:03  |  paul white 06/05/09
      15.   I think Israel makes some of USA weapons 05:17  |  MMM 06/05/09
      16.   I did not what NPT would do Israel nuclear weapons 05:50  |  Jason Belkin 06/05/09
      17.   If Israel Could 06:02  |  Ron 06/05/09
      18.   Israel has no such weapons... 06:08  |  Baruch Gold 06/05/09
      19.   nuclear empathy 06:52  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 06/05/09
      20.   #9 Baruch Gold. Prove it! 06:58  |  Maureen Ann 06/05/09
      21.   THE Sellout is on full speed.Never mind Arab WMD`s 06:59  |  PETER SM 06/05/09
      22.   WHY Doesn`t the USA do as they are told by their new Persian 07:00  |  PETER SM 06/05/09
      23.   iran has made this treaty a farce... 07:46  |  saul a. readner 06/05/09
      24.   A BAD NEWS FOR ISRAEL 07:50  |  indrajaya 06/05/09
      25.   Civilization Is Missing The Point 07:55  |  Yosemite 06/05/09
      26.   #6 No, and yes, netsp 08:42  |  Johnboy 06/05/09
      27.   the Wizard of Oz 08:42  |  Eddie Harris 06/05/09
      28.   No problem 08:55  |  Dan 06/05/09
      29.   Well Mark...... 09:01  |  john 06/05/09
      30.   How so Saul? 09:17  |  john 06/05/09
      31.   "Be merciful" ! 09:22  |  Akram Zekaria 06/05/09
      32.   MAUREEN You prove it! Israel has NO obligation,Iran has 09:28  |  PETER SM 06/05/09
      33.   Isreal has no nuclear weapons. 09:36  |  Stephen. 06/05/09
      34.   Dan 09:38  |  TonyL 06/05/09
      35.   to Johnboy 09:48  |  john 06/05/09
      36.   Maureen Ann 09:50  |  TonyL 06/05/09
      37.   Obama, American Policy and Israel 09:56  |  Richard 06/05/09
      38.   #16 Saul Reader 09:59  |  john 06/05/09
      39.   #15 Proving it to Maureen 10:04  |  Baruch Gold 06/05/09
      40.   Probably just a tactic... 10:27  |  MarkC 06/05/09
      41.   #36 Baruch Gold and his mates, PeterSM and TonyL. 10:44  |  Maureen Ann 06/05/09
      42.   It`s not Perfect - Tear It Down 10:47  |  Mark of Lewiston 06/05/09
      43.   Israel official criticises the plan 11:16  |  Chris Linthwaite 06/05/09
      44.   #5 Janice 11:18  |  Chris Linthwaite 06/05/09
      45.   Don`t Listen to Obama: He`s to naive: PERIOD 11:18  |  David 06/05/09
      46.   #13 MMM 11:35  |  Chris Linthwaite 06/05/09
      47.   This is a really bad idea 11:37  |  American 06/05/09
      48.   Israel does NOT need the BOMB. 11:51  |  Razi 06/05/09
      49.   oh woe is me 11:51  |  samuel the seer 06/05/09
      50.   Israel Please Don`t Sign.. 11:59  |  Tim R 06/05/09
      51.   Israel: Sidewalk supervisor extrordinare 12:01  |  Natallie Durson 06/05/09
      52.   To Israel: Sign and Dig Your Graves in the Millions 12:05  |  Dav Lev 06/05/09
      53.   natanyahu and barak are a great team 12:07  |  samuel the seer 06/05/09
      54.   MarkC P1 12:15  |  TonyL 06/05/09
      55.   MarkC P2 12:24  |  TonyL 06/05/09
      56.   Maureen Ann 12:31  |  TonyL 06/05/09
      57.   Careful not to become an Iranian tool 12:39  |  H.H.M 06/05/09
      58.   Ah, how beautiful! Sweet good sense has descended on Washington! 12:42  |  Ivar 06/05/09
      59.   TonyL. "There are many things in life that should be done... 12:47  |  Maureen Ann 06/05/09
      60.   Put your head on the beheading block! 12:57  |  Yonatan 06/05/09
      61.   nortyh asian peoples like the japanese and chinese 12:58  |  mao 06/05/09
      62.   Neighborhood Bully, Part 1 13:00  |  Yonatan 06/05/09
      63.   Neighborhood Bully, part 2 13:01  |  Yonatan 06/05/09
      64.   Neighborhood Bully, part 3 13:02  |  Yonatan 06/05/09
      65.   Natallie Durson 13:07  |  TonyL 06/05/09
      66.   Maureen Ann 13:16  |  TonyL 06/05/09
      67.   #52 Dav Lev 13:32  |  Chris Linthwaite 06/05/09
      68.   # 15 mmm 13:33  |  Axel 06/05/09
      69.   #50, Tim R 13:34  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 06/05/09
      70.   #65 TonyL 13:40  |  Chris Linthwaite 06/05/09
      71.   Israel should sign 13:53  |  peter 06/05/09
      72.   You Forgot Cuba, Rose 13:59  |  Jeff Northridge 06/05/09
      73.   I want one too.. 14:18  |  Ola 06/05/09
      74.   Shifting Sands 14:33  |  Paul 06/05/09
      75.   MAUREEN Why?? Look up the Vanunu trial 14:36  |  PETER SM 06/05/09
      76.   Nuclear proliferation 14:42  |  BazMann 06/05/09
      77.   Israel should not sign unless Iran and all Arabs sign too! 14:45  |  Ahmad 06/05/09
      78.   How About the US Giving Up its Nukes? 14:52  |  Jane 06/05/09
      79.   Redicoulos joke! 15:05  |  Arie 06/05/09
      80.   Like gving up the Sudetenland 15:06  |  Yonatan 06/05/09
      81.   oabamas future 15:08  |  Zima 06/05/09
      82.   The US signed the NPT, so why not 15:30  |  Christopher 06/05/09
      83.   netsp:"Can Israel declare nuclear weapons " 15:34  |  Christopher 06/05/09
      84.   Is Israel for or against Nuclear weapon prolification? 15:52  |  GaileeHero 06/05/09
      85.   # 77, ZIMA 15:53  |  indrajaya 06/05/09
      86.   Now the choice is your Israel ! 16:01  |  Akram Zekaria 06/05/09
      87.   Just as Isreal has a right..... 16:14  |  ali 06/05/09
      88.   Non-proliferation doesn`t mean non-possession 16:29  |  Paul Freedman 06/05/09
      89.   Thank you, Iran and Syria 16:40  |  Harold 06/05/09
      90.   # 84, HAROLD 17:02  |  indrajaya 06/05/09
      91.   U.S. urges Israel to... 17:15  |  David Nigel Braham 06/05/09
      92.   Say that again, Mr Unnamed Israeli Source? 17:23  |  Johnboy 06/05/09
      93.   Nuclear weapons for peace 17:33  |  Non-Arab Saudi 06/05/09
      94.   NO to the trap 17:35  |  Brod 06/05/09
      95.   #75 PeterSM. Maybe we should ban the wheel. 18:19  |  Maureen Ann 06/05/09
      96.   First things first, start with the greatest threats 18:22  |  *BEN JABO 06/05/09
      97.   Deterrant to war. 18:24  |  yeiel 06/05/09
      98.   #15 - MMM - Question? 18:26  |  Daniel 06/05/09
      99.   MMM - Wrong 18:44  |  American 06/05/09
      100.   Paul Freedman # 88 I Don`t Think So 18:46  |  Jeff Northridge 06/05/09
      101.   Israel and the NPT 18:54  |  WHG 06/05/09
      102.   I said an American Jew design the F-117 18:58  |  MMM 06/05/09
      103.   Well, Durson, you tell everyone how to do their work, even Obama 19:10  |  Israel citizen 06/05/09
      104.   Jews have also played leading roles throughout aviation 19:11  |  MMM 06/05/09
      105.   Nuclear disarmament in the middle East 19:15  |  Evren 06/05/09
      106.   Israeli response to request is BS 19:24  |  Sam 06/05/09
      107.   Nukes 19:38  |  Fred Shapiro 06/05/09
      108.   What a LOSER this Obama turned out to be. 19:44  |  4:20 06/05/09
      109.   NO NUKES IN THE MID EAST! 21:53  |  Abby 06/05/09
      110.   Evren # 105 Not Quite 21:57  |  Jeff Northridge 06/05/09
      111.   Woah, Obama IS actually different from Bush 01:46  |  Marc Leb 07/05/09
      112.   Not a very good comparison Yonatan 02:10  |  Mark Lincoln 07/05/09
      113.   An Amusing Irony 02:35  |  Mark Lincoln 07/05/09
      114.   re: Abby 03:22  |  UsedToPostHere 07/05/09
      115.   Mark Lincoln # 111 It`s More Puzzling Than Amusing 03:37  |  Jeff Northridge 07/05/09
      116.   Iran does not have nuclear weapons... 03:54  |  BBSNews 07/05/09
      117.   The Americans are being conned 04:06  |  Tursas 07/05/09
      118.   it is illegal for US to assist those that do not sign. 04:36  |  Greg 07/05/09
      119.   111~ Mark Lincoln "An Amusing Irony" 05:32  |  Akram Zekaria 07/05/09
      120.   #107 You said much more than that, MMM 05:47  |  Johnboy 07/05/09
      121.   40 years of nuclear supremacy 05:48  |  LisaV 07/05/09
      122.   Bombing Iran isn`t a miracle cure either 15:02  |  Robbie 07/05/09
      123.   #112 BSnews - How do you know that for a fact 16:56  |  *BEN JABO 07/05/09
      124.   Arrogance 17:52  |  Pablo Luis 07/05/09
      125.   #118 Ignorance 18:41  |  *BEN JABO 07/05/09
      126.   Jeff Northridge #115 No it is not puzzlinhg, it is nitpicking 23:14  |  a reader 07/05/09
      127.   Ivar and his Jihadism Dancing Hall 02:09  |  Brod 08/05/09
      128.   #123 He probably reads the IAEA reports, BEN 06:14  |  Johnboy 08/05/09
      129.   #119 Translating the Akramisms.... 06:21  |  Johnboy 08/05/09
      130.   Johnboy - Mohammed El Baradei can`t 19:07  |  *BEN JABO 08/05/09
      131.   to Johnboy 129 : Sorry you wrong again ! 22:57  |  Akram Zekaria 08/05/09
      132.   NPT 19:00  |  Evren 13/05/09
      133.   This is the last straw 03:33  |  Frank 14/05/09
      134.   Israel signing nuclear treaty 13:07  |  Josiah J. Ben David 14/05/09
      135.   Making Israel sign nuclear treaty 18:32  |  JC Perkins 14/05/09
      136.   Israel nuclear treaty 18:37  |  JC Perkins 14/05/09
      137.   ISRAEL and Iran must sign NPT 04:23  |  tt12 16/11/09
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