Israel rejects Middle East nuclear talks plan
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.
Israel, which has not signed the NPT, dismissed the document as "deeply flawed" and "hypocritical".
"It ignores the realities of the Middle East and the real threats facing the region and the entire world," the Israeli government said in a statement quoted by the AFP news agency.
"Given the distorted nature of this resolution, Israel will not be able to take part in its implementation."
The statement was issued in Canada, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is visiting.
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 warned that the reference to Israel could jeopardise efforts to persuade the Israelis to attend the proposed talks.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10191339.stm
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.
Israel, which has not signed the NPT, dismissed the document as "deeply flawed" and "hypocritical".
"It ignores the realities of the Middle East and the real threats facing the region and the entire world," the Israeli government said in a statement quoted by the AFP news agency.
"Given the distorted nature of this resolution, Israel will not be able to take part in its implementation."
The statement was issued in Canada, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is visiting.
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 warned that the reference to Israel could jeopardise efforts to persuade the Israelis to attend the proposed talks.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10191339.stm