Israel angry over being singled out in action plan on nuclear weapons

JERUSALEM/NEW YORK - Israel has sharply criticized an action plan on nuclear weapons agreed to by the United States and 188 other countries.

The action plan stressed the “importance” of Israel joining the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty but did not mention Iran’s expanding atomic program, the Israeli government noted in a statement.

According to the Washington Post, the Israeli statement described the plan as “deeply flawed,” and added that “it ignores the realities of the Middle East and the real threats facing the region and the entire world.”he plan “singles out Israel, the Middle East’s only true democracy and the only country threatened with annihilation,” the statement said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Obama on Tuesday to discuss Iran, the peace process with the Palestinians and the NPT resolution.

Many diplomats had expected U.S. officials to withhold approval of the final document because of the mention of Israel, but Washington was apparently reluctant to be viewed as the spoiler at a conference that focused on one of Obama’s priorities. (ANI)