Non-aligned critique U.S. on Israel nuclear capacity

Non-aligned nations said the U.S. relationship with Israel undermines American arguments against nuclear proliferation. The United States sought consensus on confronting Iran’s nuclear plans at a meeting this week in Vienna of the 130 signatories to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. A draft resolution said “serious concern was expressed over Iran’s nuclear program and it was strongly urged to comply with all the requirements (in resolutions by the U.N. Security Council and International Atomic Energy Agency urging it to stop enrichment) without further delay.” It was unclear, however, if the resolution would pass, partly because of skepticism by representatives of the Non-Aligned Movement about Israel, which is not a signatory to the NPT. “We express serious concern over a continuing development whereby Israeli scientists are provided access to the nuclear facilities of one nuclear weapons state,” the United States, said Indonesian envoy Triyono Wibowo, speaking for the 115-nation Non-Aligned Movement. “Stability cannot be achieved in a region where massive imbalances in military capabilities are maintained.”