Josh Gerstein of Politico sees another Israeli-United States road bump ahead:
President Barack Obama’s call for a nuclear security summit next March could end up turning an uncomfortable spotlight on at least one nation — Israel – and further strain the administration’s relations with the Jewish state, analysts said.
Obama told leaders at the G-8 summit in July that he planned to ask the heads of 25 to 30 countries to come to Washington to discuss securing nuclear stockpiles. The final invites haven’t gone out yet, and one key question for Obama is this: does he ask Israel to attend, or not?
There’s no good choice.
Invite Israel, and open its leaders up to questions about the country’s widely reported nuclear weapons program – which the Israelis have long refused to discuss.
But leave out Israel, and the Middle Eastern nations who would seem to be a necessity at any summit discussing nuclear security would feel compelled to point to Israel’s reported efforts as a source of instability in the region.
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