After the United Nations ratified a resolution calling for a nuclear weapons-free Middle East, the US president gives Israel "concrete guarantees" to prevent the decision from harming Israeli interests.

Israeli daily The Jerusalem Post quoted senior political sources in al-Quds (Jerusalem) as saying that President Barack Obama’s assurances to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came with the promise of a significant upgrade of Israel’s military capabilities.

President Obama gave Prime Minister Netanyahu "concrete guarantees that the US will strengthen Israel’s strategic capabilities," the report said.

The pledge comes two days after all 189 signatories to the Non-Proliferation Treaty reached an agreement for the establishment of a Middle East without nuclear weapons.

The long-sought statement called on all Middle East nations to attend a 2012 conference on ridding the region of weapons of mass destruction.

The Friday’s agreement also stressed "the importance of Israel’s accession to the treaty and the placement of all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) safeguards."

On Saturday, Netanyahu condemned the international deal, saying that Israel would not participate in the 2012 summit.

Late on Sunday, President Obama rushed to align itself with Tel Aviv, condemning the decision and promising to prevent any UN resolution in this regard from threatening Israeli interests.

This is while Israel is widely believed to be the sixth-largest nuclear power in the world and the sole possessor of an atomic arsenal in the Middle East.

For 40 years, with the help of the United States, Israel has successfully prevented its undeclared arsenal of approximately 200 atomic warheads from becoming public.

(Press TV)