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 programme.

The initiative appeared to be linked to a Indo-US agreement that would effectively waive the group's rules by allowing the US to supply India with nuclear fuel despite its refusal both to sign the nonproliferation treaty and allowing the IAEA to inspect all of its nuclear facilities.

Israeli officials began examining how their country could profit from that deal as early as last year, at one point proposing that the US ask for an exemption from restrictions stipulating safeguards by the UN nuclear agency on all nuclear facilities, said a diplomat. The US rejected that request, he said, demanding anonymity for discussing restricted information.

Still, the documents show that Israel has not given up its quest.

Under a cover letter labelled "confidential," the two papers - titled "Israel's Credentials in Nuclear Non-Proliferation, Safety and Security," and "Toward a Criteria Based Approach for Nuclear Collaboration with Non-NPT States" - were circulated among the group on March 19 by Japan, whose mission to IAEA serves as the liaison office for the group.

Among the hurdles still to be cleared before the Indo-US pact becomes reality is NSG approval of a special exemption for India from group restrictions.

Besides India, only Pakistan and North Korea are known to have nuclear weapons and be outside the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. But Israel is considered an undeclared weapons state; its doctrine of "nuclear ambiguity" - never formally confirming or denying that it has such weapons - is meant to scare potential enemies from considering an annihilating attack while denying them the rationale for developing their own nuclear deterrent.

In the paper proposing a list of criteria to be used by NSG countries for "Nuclear Collaboration with non-NPT States," Israel inadvertently appeared to touch on the debate over its own status, saying one condition should be application of "stringent physical protection, control, and accountancy measures to all nuclear weapons...in its territory."

The diplomat said the Israeli papers were "acknowledged but definitely not embraced" by the NSG members.

The NSG is expected to consider a US proposal lifting restrictions on trade with India as an offshoot of the deal.