April 8th, 2010
08:11 PM ET

Netanyahu to skip Obama's nuclear security summit

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has informed the Obama administration that he will not attend President Barack Obama's nuclear security summit in Washington next week, according to a senior U.S. official familiar with the situation.

The move could be a sign of further tension between the United States and Israel and may distract from the Obama administration's attempts to highlight the unprecedented nature of a 46-nation summit aimed at reducing nuclear weapons. But the U.S. official said that Israel is "sending appropriate representation" to the summit. The official said that other countries are also sending representatives who are lower profile than heads of state.

The news comes after Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a major nuclear arms treaty in the Czech Republic earlier Thursday. The new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty - known as START– reduces the number of nuclear weapons held by the United States and Russia by about one-third, among other provisions.

- From CNN Senior White House Correspondent Ed Henry
Filed under: Israel • U.S. • World
soundoff (14 Responses)
  1. mike

    Good. The US-Israeli relationship needs some tension.

    April 8, 2010 at 8:43 pm | Report abuse |
  2. leavelaw

    Seems to me Israel is trying assert it's "independence" more and more.

    April 8, 2010 at 8:47 pm | Report abuse |
  3. surfsup

    Israel wouldn't sign non-proliferation treaty in past and defied UN resolutions. To attend is an admission Israel has nukes. We all know they do. Just another Israeli game.

    April 8, 2010 at 9:17 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Gord

    You have to wonder if Netanyahu's Republican pals in the US aren't encouraging him to obstruct Obama.

    April 8, 2010 at 9:40 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Troyisha Watson

    Yes it's true more tension but i think its up to us americans to accept what they have to offer

    April 8, 2010 at 9:55 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Katie

    While I'm not sure if this is an assertion of "independence," I believe Netanyahu is no different than the other countries that are sending reps that aren't PMs. I just hope the tension will ease between the U.S. and Israel, we all need to work together.

    April 8, 2010 at 9:57 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Carl

    It IS not necessary for the US to have good relations with Israel. In the end the zionists have WMD and do not want Iran to be equal. Israels treatment of people in the occupied neighbouring land violates international law and goes unpunished. A disgrace. GP Iran!

    April 8, 2010 at 11:58 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Drew

    This is why I ❤ Israel. They don't let anyone tell them who's boss. Totally my style.

    April 9, 2010 at 12:29 am | Report abuse |
  9. cocopuf

    lavelaw: Israel has been an independent nation for a long time now. So, when you say asserting, it doesn't make sense. If you imply Jerusalem, you're absolutely right. It is the Capital if Israel. Israel should not share it with the present of those so palestinian. Look, we left Gaza and gave it to them (ALL OF GAZA) and see what has happened since ...Chaos.

    How would want to share your country's capital city with terrorists for a 2-state solution? Think about it before you answer.

    April 9, 2010 at 1:42 am | Report abuse |
  10. Mike

    We need more tension. Israel is in no way helping our country. We shouldn't be proud of being the only country in the world to support them. We loose 3 billion dollar every year just to help them to kill palestainian, and when we ask them to do sth the always refuse it! Why on earth we still pretend to be their freind?

    April 9, 2010 at 1:50 am | Report abuse |
  11. Barry

    I don't think the Israeli's should push the tensions any further than they already have.

    April 9, 2010 at 8:02 am | Report abuse |
  12. Jason

    Israel is showing more and more they're true colors. They don't have to follow any rules they're real estate agent is God! How dare Obama ask them to stop they're.genocide of they're neighbors (shun the non-beleiver)

    April 9, 2010 at 8:18 am | Report abuse |
  13. Ed

    What? POTUS should get on the phone and say "Son, get your house in order and be here for the summit, or I'll cut your allowance by 300 million"!!!!

    April 12, 2010 at 8:58 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Hugh O'Brien

    Actually what is happening is that the more tension between Israel and the US the more of an excuse for Israel to act on Iran without our foot on their neck. It is a grand plan I believe that justifies Israel acting because they feel they have to take action on Iran because we are not supporting them. It takes the blame off of us and allows Israel to do what we would like to do to Iran by their natural enemy. Great manipulation!

    April 14, 2010 at 11:42 pm | Report abuse |
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