US to help Israel’s nuclear programs

The US administration will cooperate with Israel on its nuclear program, despite Israel’s refusal to sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The US expressed “willingness to cooperate with Israel on civilian nuclear power projects,” AFP quoted an informed Israeli official as saying on Wednesday.

The news comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on an official visit to the United States, where he discussed Israel’s military capabilities with US defense officials.

This is at a time when Israel refuses to become a signatory to the NPT and other countries refuse to cooperate with Tel Aviv on nuclear matters.

At the NPT review conference in May, Israel was urged to agree to international inspection of its nuclear facilities, but Tel Aviv rejected the call.

On Tuesday, US President Barack Obama told Netanyahu that “America would not allow Israel to be singled out for criticism at UN forums on nuclear disarmament.”

Tel Aviv pursues a policy of ambiguity regarding its nuclear activities, neither confirming nor denying its nuclear capability. Israel is widely believed to be the only possessor of nuclear arms in the Middle East.

Netanyahu also asked Washington to supply Israel with more weapons to maintain what it calls its strategic advantage over its Arab neighbors. Israel says Iran’s strengthening and the American forces’ scheduled withdrawal from Iraq next year worries Tel Aviv.