Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided not to attend the UN climate summit in Copenhagen due to superfluous cost and heavy agenda, reported local news service Ynet on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister's Office was quoted as saying that the decision was because of "the costs surrounding the stay of the Israeli delegation in Denmark" and the prime minister's "tight schedule."

Meanwhile, in light of the significance of the climate issues, Netanyahu suggested that President Shimon Peres attend the ongoing conference in the Danish capital, according to the report.

Netanyahu's cancellation came on the same day that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who Netanyahu sees as a bitter enemy, was reported to travel to Copenhagen for the climate summit.

(Xinhua News Agency December 10, 2009)