Government officials said on Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has decided not to attend the nuclear security summit in the United States.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz has reported that instead, Intelligence and Atomic Energy Minister Dan Meridor will represent Israel at the talks.

U. S. President Barack Obama has invited more than 40 nations to Washington to discuss the potential spread of nuclear weapons to terrorists.

It was reported that Netanyahu was to have arrived in the United States Monday and participated in conference sessions Tuesday before departing Wednesday.

The prime minister canceled because of concerns some Muslim countries would demand Israel sign on to the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Israeli officials told Haaretz.

Haaretz quoted an unnamed senior government official as saying, "The nuclear security summit is supposed to be about dealing with the danger of nuclear terror. Israel is a part of that effort and has responded positively to President Obama's invitation to the conference.

The report further said, "But that said, in the last few days we have received reports about the intention of several participant states to depart from the issue of combating terrorism and instead misuse the event to goad Israel over the (non-proliferation treaty)."

Israel, India, Pakistan and North Korea have not signed the pact while 189 nations have signed.

Though it has never confirmed it, Israel is believed to have nuclear weapons. (With Inputs from Agencies)