Hillary Defends Role of Israel at Nuclear Summit

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says Israel has much to contribute to this week's nuclear security summit even though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is skipping the Washington conference.

Clinton says the world's biggest concern on nuclear security is that terrorists will get control of bomb-making material. She says Israel can do much to help thwart that.

Israel will be represented at President Barack Obama's conference by the deputy prime minister.

Some Arab and Muslim countries want to focus on the fact that Israel hasn't signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation treaty. Israel's policy is not to confirm or deny that it has nuclear weapons.

Clinton's comments came in interviews with NBC's "Meet the Press" and ABC's "This Week."