Sign up for Weekday J and get the latest on what's happening in the Jewish Bay Area.

Ignoring a U.S. warning, Arab nations are urging the United States and other powers to end support of Israel’s nuclear secrecy and to push Israel to allow international inspections of its program, according to an Aug. 8 letter signed by Arab League chief Amr Moussa that was shared with the Associated Press.

The Arab League apparently has approached Washington and other Israeli allies directly for support at the September meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

President Barack Obama last month warned against using that forum to single out Israel, suggesting that such a move would likely kill hopes of breakthrough talks in 2012 on a Mideast nuclear-free zone. Over Israeli objections, those planned talks have been backed by the U.S. and other nuclear powers for the first time since Arab nations pushed for such a gathering 15 years ago. — ap