GLOBAL NUCLEAR SECURITY SUMMIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 002019 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2019 TAGS: MNUC PARM PTER PREL IAEA IS SUBJECT: GLOBAL NUCLEAR SECURITY SUMMIT REF: STATE 94449 Classified By: Political Counselor Marc Sievers, reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) PolCouns delivered the President's invitation regarding a global nuclear security summit (reftel) to PM Netanyahu's National Security Advisor Uzi Arad on September ¶13. Arad described press speculation that Israel would not attend the conference as "nonsense," adding that he could see no reason why Israel would not attend. However, Arad speculated that several unmentioned other countries might opt not to attend. He noted the request to appoint a Sherpa to prepare for the summit, and said he would get back with further details as soon as possible. ¶2. (SBU) On September 14, Polmiloff raised reftel invitation with MFA Director for Arms Control Rodica Radian-Gordon, stressing the initial meeting on the margins of the IAEA General Conference (GC) to be held by Dr. Gary Samore on September 15. Radian-Gordon said she will seek guidance from the Prime Minister's office, while instructing the Israeli delegation to the GC to seek further information from the U.S. delegation regarding the September 15 meeting. ********************************************* ******************** Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv ********************************************* ******************** CUNNINGHAM