Untitled - orsam

On December 1, 2009, Ellen Tauscher, the U.S. under secretary for arms control and
international security affairs, arrived in Israel for meetings with government officials. The
central topic of discussion was preparations for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Review Conference that took place six months later in New York.
In the lead-up to the summit, Egypt applied heavy pressure on the U.S. to support a call
for the supervision of Israel's nuclear facilities and the convening of an international
summit on denuclearizing the Middle East.
Tauscher met with a group of high-ranking Israeli officials involved with the nuclear issue
and asked that Israel show flexibility on its nuclear facilities ahead of the conference. But
she pledged that her government would consult with Israel on the matter and not take
any action that might undermine its security.
Six months later, however, Washington succumbed to Egyptian pressure: Despite Israel's
pleas, it allowed the conference to pass a resolution condemning Israel for not opening
its nuclear facilities to inspection.
According to the document, Arad described Egypt's Foreign Ministry as a "'nagging
problem' in the relationship, particularly regarding the proposal for a nuclear-free Middle
East, and noted that Israel wanted to see a 'reversal of trends' from Egypt regarding
Iran's nuclear program."
The cable also said Amos Gilad, head of the Defense Ministry's political security
department, had described Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak as lacking confidence in
his foreign minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and recommended that Washington deal
directly with the president. Tauscher concurred, and said she would try to circumvent
Egypt's Foreign Ministry in her dealings with the Mubarak government.
The documents shed light on Israeli political squabbling as well. On April 18, 2007, the
U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv sent a cable summarizing a meeting between Benjamin
Netanyahu, then opposition leader, and visiting U.S. congressmen in which Netanyahu
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