Netanyahu to attend U.S. nuclear security summit
Obama formally unveils new policy restricting U.S. use of nuclear arms, but not on Iran and North Korea.
By Barak Ravid and Reuters Tags: Barack Obama Iran nuclear Israel newsPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will attend the nuclear security summit hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington next week, sources at the Prime Minister's Bureau said Tuesday.
Netanyahu will be accompanied on the trip by the Director-General of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission, Shaul Horev, and National Security Adviser Uzi Arad, among other officials.
Netanyahu is not expected to hold meetings with Obama during the summit.
More than 40 world leaders are expected to take part in the Washington summit, scheduled for April 12-13, which is expected to discuss disarmament as well as ways to reduce the threat of or terrorist groups and rogue nations from gaining access to nuclear weapons.
A political source in Jerusalem noted that Israel participated in the process of wording the summit's conclusions in order to avoid having the subject of nuclear inspections at Israeli facilities included in any formal statements.
Sources are also expecting that some leaders, including Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, will give speeches during the summit condemning Israel's nuclear arsenal and urging Israel to open its facilities to nuclear inspectors and join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Obama is expected to meet several elders during the summit, including Mubarak, and Chinese president Hu Jintao. Sources at the Prime Minister's Bureau said that the White House notified leaders who have met with Obama recently that due to time constraints the U.S. leader won't be able to meet with all attendees.
Netanyahu is also not currently scheduled to meet other senior officials, including U.S. special envoy to the Mideast George Mitchell, who is still expecting a response from Netanyahu regarding the renewal of peace talks with the Palestinians and the four-month moratorium on construction in East Jerusalem.
Mitchell, who was scheduled to return to the region this week, has postponed his trip to Israel.
The Prime Minister's Bureau said Israel will issue its reply to Washington in the near future, although there is no formal deadline from the administration.
Obama unveils new policy on nuclear arms
The Obama administration formally unveiled a new policy on Tuesday restricting U.S. use of nuclear arms, renouncing development of new atomic weapons and heralding further cuts in America's stockpile.
But even as Obama limits the conditions under which the United States would resort to a nuclear strike, he is making clear that nuclear-defiant states like Iran and North Korea will remain potential targets.
"I'm going to preserve all the tools that are necessary in order to make sure that the American people are safe and secure," Obama told The New York Times in an interview that previewed his revamped nuclear strategy.
Obama insisted "outliers like Iran and North Korea" that have violated or renounced the treaty would not be protected.
The policy shift, calling for reduced U.S. reliance on its nuclear deterrent, could build momentum before Obama signs a landmark arms control treaty with Russia in Prague on Thursday and hosts a nuclear security summit in Washington next week.
But it is also likely to draw fire from conservative critics who say his approach is naive and compromises U.S. national security.
The Nuclear Posture Review is required by Congress from every U.S. administration but Obama set expectations high after he vowed to end "Cold War thinking" and won the Nobel Peace Prize in part for his vision of a nuclear-free world.
Under the new strategy, the United States would commit for the first time not to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states that are in compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, even if it is attacked with biological or chemical weapons, according to The New York Times and a U.S. official who confirmed the details.
Those threats, Obama said, could be deterred with "a series of graded options" - a combination of old and newly designed conventional weapons.
Still, Obama is rolling back the Bush administration's more hawkish policy set out in its 2002 review threatening the use of nuclear weapons to preempt or respond to chemical or biological attack, even from non-nuclear countries.
An exception under Obama's plan would allow an option of reconsidering the use of nuclear retaliation against a biological attack if there is reason to believe the United States were vulnerable to a devastating attack.
To set an example for global arms control, Obama's strategy - another departure from Bush-era policy - commits the United States to no new atomic arms development, U.S. officials said.
The United States will, however, increase investment in upgrading its weapons infrastructure, which one White House official said would "facilitate further nuclear reductions."
Arms control experts see potential for significant cuts in the U.S. stockpile by upgrading weapons laboratories to weed out older, ineffective warheads.
Obama now faces the challenge of lending credibility to his arms control push while not alarming allies under the U.S. defense umbrella or limiting room to maneuver in dealing with emerging nuclear threats from Iran and North Korea.
The review is a test of Obama's effort to make controlling nuclear arms worldwide a signature foreign policy initiative. It is also important because it will affect defense budgets and Weapons deployment and retirement for years to come.
The strategy was developed after a lengthy debate among Obama's aides and military officials over whether to declare that the United States would never be the first to use nuclear weapons in a crisis but would act only in response to attack.
Obama appeared unlikely to go as far as forswearing the first-strike option, which will disappoint some liberals.
The review comes a day before Obama leaves for Prague, where he and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will sign a new START pact to slash nuclear arsenals by a third.
The signing ceremony will occur nearly a year after Obama's Prague speech laying out his vision for eventually ridding the world of nuclear weapons. Obama acknowledged it might not be completed in his lifetime.
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Russia and America are friends now,why to spend money on Nukes will never be used except to kill another human being, and if used will mean the end of the world. why you name yourself as born in America,while you are not acting in the best interest of America. according to you, is to start again the cold war and support Israel.for what? this is what your jewish narrow minded PM has done to Israel. if you calculate right, you will see that the best way Israel will preserve herself is through peace, not war. Israel can be defeated easily from within itself. Settlers are setting themselves up for it. but building around the palestinian towns. if the pals gets anti tanks and anti air craft missles( stingers) and some machine gun, they can take it over again and the IDF will be neutralized. peace is the best thing that can bring our human heart together, but if you insist on war,so be it, you will lose this time.
Can somebody tell me? Can Israel use its Nukes against lebanon, Syria or jordan? no way, since the Radiations and the wind will bring the disaster back to Israel. remember what happened in Russia Nuclear reactor leak,and that will give you an example, how about using Nuclear bomb against Syria, or lebanon, that would be like committing suicide for Israel. meanwhile, keeping Nukes in Israel will spark a nuclear race, if not now, even after 100 years from now, and Israel neighbors will not hesitate to use it against Israel if even it means killing themselves too. now Israel has to think, having nukes will be the one thing to destroy Israel, not to protect her, wake up.accept peace before it's too late.
something of the king." I,promise to take part in this debate on Nuclear Weaponds,and in GOD Faith- I will tell the truth , nothing but the Truth about my country's Nuclear armaments, so help me GOD"
denunciation of secret nuclear weapons' research and development... I'm sure he will be addressing the covert activities of Iran, North Korea, India, Pakistan, Brazil, Venezuela, Syria, Iraq, etc.
this is not a slow learner. this is a true believer. shalom, cipora
Its nothing more than the all new "Obama Roadshow", nobody will ever give up their nuclear detterent. Ask Al Qaeda to give up its weapons. Or the Taliban, Hamas, Hezbollah or Chechen Rebels. What a load of political PR, why, again do I ask myself, are we revisiting 1938.? Have we not read enough history.? Or does history mean nothing to those in DC.? Guess not, the gracious president proves yet again that he did not complete his learning curve in world politics. Boy, is this a slow learner.! Good day.
don't bet on it
there will be a Nuclear race in the ME. Israel is a threat to the world peace, if not disarmed of its nukes. also occupation to the palestinian land has to end, otherwise heavy price will be paid by innocent people from both parties. the way Iran is not allowed to have Nukes, the way Israel suppose to disarm or share the same sanction with Iran.
This is what change looks like. Obama the apologist will waste no time obeying this new treaty while the Russians secretly ignore it and build up their ability to project power now that they are an oil exporting state. Ronald Reagan defeated the Soviets by bankrupting them, Obama has now done the same to the USA with health care reform. America withdraws from the world stage and leaves its former friend Israel to be feasted upon by an Arab League armed to the teeth and ready to finish the job they began in 1948.
..."Top Secret" reports) are on the verge of revealing that (by mutual consent) both President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu will each wear a series of tasteful disguises to the summit, thus avoiding the possible embarrassment of accidental public encounters.
Maureen- Israel, alone of all the nations, faces overt calls for its extermination by people who could soon acquire the means to carry this out. Israel can only afford to share a rule book with other nations once this threat is removed. Full legal/diplomatic recognition of Israel's right to exist( admittedly, within agreed borders) would be an essential first step to achieving Israeli nuclear disarmament. At present, Israel, for sound historical reasons, cannot leave its survival in the hands of the rest of the world, and we all face the fact that the future could contain a calamitous "Samson Option". Unpalatable, but true. Mere onesided condemnation of Israel only brings such a fate nearer, to the detriment of all humankind. Full legal/diplomatic recognition need not imply brotherly love- but does at least help prevent catastrophe by misunderstanding or accident. A nuclear "exchange" in the Middle East would ruin civilisation for many generations, at a minimum.
"...he is making clear that nuclear-defiant states like Iran and North Korea will remain potential targets" Does this include Israel?
I agree that Israel is two faced, but if the USA put their foot down, they would not be able to get away with it. We should get angry with the US first and foremost as they allow all this injustice to continue.
He has broken prior agreements with Israel.
So when is PM Netanyahu going to give his "formal" reply to Obama? I thought he was supposed to do it this week after Passover was over?
"Israel is being treated like America`s whore. It`s time for her to find different lovers." Sorry to have to break this to you, Michael, but no one else would have her. The US is her last friend and that's growing cold by the day. I look forward to Netanyahu's presence at this conference where many will point to Israel's undoubted nuclear arsenal.
... the Israelies, in terms of sheer hypocrisy and gall, outdo themselves. "A political source in Jerusalem noted that Israel participated in the process of wording the summit's conclusions in order to avoid having the subject of nuclear inspections at Israeli facilities included in any formal statements."
...and recognition by Arab governments. That way, if Israel is ever again attacked by Hamas or Hezbollah, NATO will be obligated to respond.
Strong talk from the safety of your home in the US. Which side are you on: your home of record or Israel. IF the latter, tickets are still available. Israel is now an official enemy of the US. Make a choice. As for Bibi making statements, he should not even come, for whatever he says will not admit having nuclear weapons in Israel, but that all other nations should get rid of theirs. What a crock of hypocrisy!
Israel made a very fateful decision in the 1950s to become the first nation to introduce nuclear arms to the Middle East. Nixon and Kissinger (Zionist jew) made and equally fateful decision to lend U.S. support to Israeli weapons of mass destruction. Now, the chickens are coming home to roost.
This a travesti, having a meeting to rid the world on nukes, yet invite an israeli P.M. who would not acknowledge the presence of warheads in their country . Vanunu should be invited instead.
"sign a mutual defense treaty with Iran".
North Korea and Iran deserved a group name and here it is: NUCLEAR DEFIANT ROGUE STATES. The sheer energy deployed in defining those nuclear enemies of the West seems to be the main objective of that summit. Saying is one thing...doing is another.
you must not forget that israel is above all International Laws
Yet, Bibi tells Mimouna - we will continue developing in Jerusalem. That's the way to do diplomacy - Obama talking to 40 world leaders and Netanyahu talking to Mimouna.
Before it began.Sure Bibi will speak about outlier Iran on nuclear weapon and all listener will give standing ovations
Netanyahu is not expected to hold meetings with Obama during the summit. Good. I think it's about time to end this clandestine affair, with the Israeli PM sneaking in and out through the servant's entrance, in the middle of the night. Israel is being treated like America's whore. It's time for her to find different lovers.
Can one imagine the loud laughs in Iran and North Korea ? Today no one could attack the US and not suffer equal or worse retaliation, possibly be obliterated. Tomorrow, if Iran was able to, does anyone think it would hesitate to attack ? If your answer is No, then Obama must go. If your answer is Yes , then long live Obama.
Two faced hypocrites! Isn't it time Israel grew up without having to have a separate rule book?
Somebody remind the Americans (& the Israelis!) that the idea of having nukes is NOT to use them............. its called MAD (MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION) Even talking of the possibility of a nuclear first strike is extremely dangerous when anybody who has a few kilos of plutonium and lots of reinforced concrete can build a primitive nuke in their basement.........and it probably wont be "fail safe"
the death of millions of children. At a time when mad mullahs are out of control threatening the west and Israel, Obama is doing everything he can do to encourage American enemies to destroy the US and Israel. The syrians and Iranians think Americans are soft and stupid and I am afraid they are right.Israel, stand up to this stupid inexperienced president who needs to be empeached before the whole world becomes destabilized
Obama is a danger to the world. They should take away his Nobel and not give it back til he gets over this idea that he can impose his veiw on the world. Other leaders nust be laughing at his naivete.
BHO should scrap all US nuclear weapons and sign a mutual defense treaty with Iran.
The "conservatives" think the US should use nukes as a weapon of first resort. Fortunately, they are mostly relegated to the background. And yes, there will be those wo decry another START treaty. Afterall, we only have the ability to turn the planet into a burned out cinder 10 times over. Why reduce that to less?