Obama Reluctant to Answer Questions on Israeli Nuclear Program!

U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday urged all countries, including Israel, to sign the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT. "Whether we're talking about Israel or any other country, we think that becoming part of the NPT is important," Obama said. "And that, by the way, is not a new position. That's been a consistent position of the United States government, even prior to my administration." Israel operates a policy of 'nuclear ambiguity', refusing to confirm or deny having atomic weapons - but has not signed the treaty and is believed to posses between 200 and 300 nuclear warheads. Obama, who was hosting an international conference on nuclear security in Washington, was at first reluctant to answer journalists' questions on Israel, whose prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu had at the last minute canceled plans to attend. "Initially you were talking about US behavior, and then suddenly we're talking about Israel. Let me talk about the United States," the president said. “I do think that as part of the NPT, our obligation, as the largest nuclear power in the world, is to take steps to reducing our nuclear stockpile. And that's what the START treaty was about, sending a message that we are going to meet our obligation...as far as Israel goes, I'm not going to comment on their program.” OBAMA DOWNBEAT ABOUT MIDEAST PEACE PROSPECTS Also Tuesday, Obama gave a surprisingly downbeat assessment of the chances for a U.S.-brokered peace settlement in the Middle East, saying that the United States cannot help if Israel and the Palestinians decide they cannot negotiate. The two sides may say to themselves, "We are not prepared to resolve these issues no matter how much pressure the United States brings to bear," Obama said. Obama reiterated that peace is a vital goal, but one that may be beyond reach even if we are applying all of our political capital. Obama was responding to a question about whether the successful negotiation of a new arms control treaty with Russia and the agreements he won at this week's nuclear summit could help him make gains elsewhere. His words are recognition that although he pledged to work hard for a deal from his first day in office, Obama has gotten little traction in the decades-old conflict. The United States is pushing for new Israeli-Palestinian talks in which the Obama administration would be a go-between. Previous talks broke off more than a year ago, and despite shuttle diplomacy and unusual pressure on ally Israel, the Obama administration has been unable to reach even the modest goal of new talks.