Egyptian UN delegate, Maged Abdel Fattah, this week reiterated demands that Israel join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in a statement to the UN general assembly. "Progress should be achieved on the internationality of the NPT, especially in the Middle East." said Abdel Fattah. Despite the well-known Israeli nuclear capacity, Abdel Fattah suggested Israel join the alliance as a non-nuclear state in an effort to encourage non-nuclear countries to accept additional obligations that will strengthen the NPT. Abdel Fattah urged regional parties to begin preparations for a 2012 conference that seeks to rid the Middle East of nuclear and mass destruction weapons. Israeli officials are tying NPT partnership to comprehensive peace in the Middle East. Analysts, however, say that prospect is unlikely as regional powers like Iran refuse to recognize Israeli statehood. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
