Israel and the Non-Proliferation Treaty

From the outset, Israel has supported the principles of nuclear non-proliferation. Although it is not a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), due to the demonstrated limitations of this treaty, Israel has refrained from disseminating nuclear knowledge and technology.

Israel's decision not to be bound by the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is based largely on the grounds that the treaty has done little to stem nuclear proliferation in the region. Iraq is a signatory to the NPT, and yet was able to amass a large amount of nuclear material without the knowledge of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Israeli nuclear policy has been particularly careful and responsible. In sharp contrast to Pakistan, whose chief nuclear scientist, A. Q. Khan, ran what the International Atomic Energy Commission (IAEA) referred to as a "nuclear supermarket" for states such as Libya, Iran, North Korea, and perhaps Syria and Saudi Arabia, Israel has avoided any contribution to nuclear proliferation. Recent changes in Israeli export regulations have brought these into line with the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and the Australia Group (with respect to preventing proliferation of chemical and biological weapons), opening the way for greater cooperation in these frameworks.