VIENNA, Sept 25: Israel is looking to a US-India nuclear deal to expand its own ties to suppliers, quietly lobbying for an exemption to non-proliferation rules so it can legally import atomic material, according to documents made available on Tuesday.

The move is sure to raise concerns among Arab nations already considering their neighbour the region’s atomic arms threat. Israel has never publicly acknowledged having nuclear weapons, but is generally considered to possess them.

The new push is reflected in papers Israel presented earlier this year to the “Nuclear Suppliers’ Group” _ 45 nations that export nuclear fuel and technology under strict rules meant to lessen the dangers of proliferation and trafficking in materials that could be used for a weapons program.

The initiative appeared to be linked to a US-India deal that would effectively waive the group’s rules by allowing the United States to supply India with nuclear fuel despite its refusal both to sign the non-proliferation treaty and allowing the IAEA to inspect all of its nuclear facilities.

Israeli officials began examining how their country could profit from the U.S.-India deal as early as last year, at one point proposing that the U.S. ask for an exemption from restrictions stipulating safeguards by the U.N. nuclear agency on all nuclear facilities, said a diplomat.—AP