In another breakdown of relations between Israel and the United States, Prime Minister Netanyahu has decided not to attend a nuclear conference being held in the United States next week because they had learned that Egypt and Turkey were going to pressure them into revealing their nuclear capabilities and sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

Instead, the Prime Minister has decided to send lower ranking officials to attend the meeting, but it is being viewed as another snub by Israel to the international community.  The move is especially troubling coming on the heels of the new START treaty between the U.S. and Russia, stalling progress on further reducing the nuclear threat around the world.

It remains to be seen how this may complicate negotiations with Russia and China on a new round of sanctions against Iran for its pursuit of nuclear weapons, but it surely won't help.