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Israel
 srael has not declared
itself a nuclear weapon state, but is widely believed to possess a nuclear
arsenal. Israel maintains an opaque nuclear policy, fearing that any outward
declaration would exacerbate tensions in the Middle East. It cites its
need for a nuclear deterrent against the WMD and missile programs of hostile
neighbors. Some scholars believe that a nuclear event in the South Atlantic
in 1979 was associated with the Israeli nuclear weapon program, possibly
carried out in collaboration with South Africa. Some sources estimate
that Israel possesses up to 200 nuclear weapons.
The issue of Israel's non-adherence to the NPT has been raised repeatedly
by other Middle Eastern NPT states at review conferences, which convene
every five years to assess implementation of the treaty. By the time
of the 2000 Review Conference, Israel was the only state in the Middle
East that had not joined the treaty. Israel has responded that acceptance
of the NPT, or equivalent treaty undertakings, is dependent upon achievement
of a comprehensive peace in the region, and the renunciation of other
forms of WMD by all Middle Eastern states.
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