BERLIN -- Israel has also to be included in a nuclear-free Middle East zone, a senior deputy of the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Party said here Tuesday.

"I don't know about Israel's nuclear use in particular. In principle none of these countries should have a nuclear use ...," Christian Schmidt said, referring to an IRNA question about Israel's nuclear threat to the Mideast region.

Islamic and Arab countries have repeatedly warned of Israel's secretive nuclear potential, while criticizing the Western nations' double-standards in dealing with the illegal Jewish state.