| Press Briefing by Scott McClellan,
December 22, 2003. Q Is the President in favor of
international inspection of Israel's nuclear arsenal,
which is pretty well known?
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know that I agree with that, the
premise of your question. But the United States has a
longstanding position of universal adherence to the
treaty on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons. That
has been our longstanding position --
Q They never signed it.
MR. McCLELLAN: -- and that is universal adherence. Well,
we have urged all states that have not yet adhered to the
treaty to do so, and to accept the IAEA safeguards on
nuclear activities that would come with it.
Q Are we trying to persuade Israel to sign it, and to be
open to inspection?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think that, one, in terms of specifics
about the Israeli government, you need to refer those
questions to the Israeli government.
Q No, no, I'm asking our position.
MR. McCLELLAN: And I've told you that the long held
position of the United States is the universal adherence
to the nonproliferation treaty.
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