(Haaretz).Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a planned trip to Washington, where he was scheduled to participate in a nuclear security summit hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama, government officials said.
Intelligence and Atomic Energy Minister Dan Meridor will take Netanyahu's place in the nuclear summit.
Officials said the PM canceled the trip over fears that a group of Muslim states, led by Egypt and Turkey, would demand that Israel sign up to the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT.
A senior government official told Haaretz that that Israel was "disappointed" with developments in the run-up to the conference.
"The nuclear security summit is supposed to be about dealing with the danger of nuclear terror," the official said. "Israel is a part of that effort and has responded positively to President Obama's invitation to the conference."
The official added: "But that said, in the last few days we have received reports about the intention of several participant states to depart from the issue of combatting terrorism and instead misuse the event to goad Israel over the NPT."
A government source told Army Radio: "Israel participates in the effort to prevent nuclear technology reaching the hands of terrorists, and on this basis we agreed to take part in the summit. But reports surfacing in the last 24 hours indicated the intention of various states to assail Israel regarding the NPT. In summits of this nature, Israel is usually represented on the ministerial and professional levels. The prime minister has accordingly decided that Meridor will head the delegation."
The White House said it had been informed Netanyahu would not attend the summit and that Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor would lead the Israeli delegation.
"We welcome Deputy Prime Minister Meridor's participation in the conference. Israel is a close ally and we look forward to continuing to work closely on issues related to nuclear security," said Mike Hammer, White House National Security Council spokesman.
Intelligence and Atomic Energy Minister Dan Meridor will take Netanyahu's place in the nuclear summit.
Officials said the PM canceled the trip over fears that a group of Muslim states, led by Egypt and Turkey, would demand that Israel sign up to the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT.
A senior government official told Haaretz that that Israel was "disappointed" with developments in the run-up to the conference.
"The nuclear security summit is supposed to be about dealing with the danger of nuclear terror," the official said. "Israel is a part of that effort and has responded positively to President Obama's invitation to the conference."
The official added: "But that said, in the last few days we have received reports about the intention of several participant states to depart from the issue of combatting terrorism and instead misuse the event to goad Israel over the NPT."
A government source told Army Radio: "Israel participates in the effort to prevent nuclear technology reaching the hands of terrorists, and on this basis we agreed to take part in the summit. But reports surfacing in the last 24 hours indicated the intention of various states to assail Israel regarding the NPT. In summits of this nature, Israel is usually represented on the ministerial and professional levels. The prime minister has accordingly decided that Meridor will head the delegation."
The White House said it had been informed Netanyahu would not attend the summit and that Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor would lead the Israeli delegation.
"We welcome Deputy Prime Minister Meridor's participation in the conference. Israel is a close ally and we look forward to continuing to work closely on issues related to nuclear security," said Mike Hammer, White House National Security Council spokesman.