'US backs nuclear ambiguity'

Ayalon says Washington accepts Israel's policy, committed to preventing Iran nukes.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Danny Ayalon (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Danny Ayalon
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
The US considers a nuclear-armed Iran unacceptable and will not pressure Israel to relinquish its policy of "nuclear ambiguity," Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said on Army Radio Wednesday morning.
Following a telephone conversation with US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs Ellen Tauscher, Ayalon said he received assurances that Washington will support Israel's traditional position of silence regarding its nuclear capabilities at the Nuclear Security Summit set to take place Monday.
“Israel and the US see eye to eye on the Iranian issue, the lateststatements from Washington show their patience has been stretched tothe limit [by Teheran]," Ayalon said.
The deputy foreign minister went on to say that “the nuclear ambiguity policy is a cornerstone of Israel's national security and the US recognizes it as such. It is not about to change in any way.”
Earlier, Ayalon told Israel Radiosaid that he was informed of the Obama Administration's new nuclear policy ahead of its public announcement, and Israel was assured it would not be negatively impacted by it.
Netanyahu's decision to attend the Nuclear Security Summit was made difficult by the fact that Israel is not a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which could make it the focus of pressure at the summit, especially by Arab and Muslim leaders. However, decisions on the control and monitoring of all nuclear materials which may impact Iran's capacity to build its nuclear arsenal may be reached there, and Israel wanted Netanyahu to be present to affect the nature of those decisions. The reassuring call from Under Secretary Tauscher allowed Netanyahu to attend the summit without trepidation.