Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz expressed opposition on Monday to the idea of Saudi Arabia developing a civilian nuclear program as part of any U.S. mediation to establish relations between the countries.
When asked about the possibility of a Saudi civilian nuclear program in the context of a potential agreement to normalize relations with Israel, Katz stated to Ynet TV, "Of course Israel does not encourage such matters. I do not think Israel should agree to such things."
Last week, Israel expected Washington to consult it on any American-Saudi deal that might affect its national security.
The New York Times reported in March that such a program is among the conditions Riyadh is requiring in order to reach a normalization agreement with Israel, although Saudi and American officials have not confirmed this.
Israel fears that neighboring countries, which may harbor hostility toward it, could use nuclear energy intended for civilian purposes and other projects developed under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty signed in 1970 as a cover for manufacturing nuclear bombs, pointing to what it considers precedents with countries such as Iraq and Libya.
Israel is not a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and does not have nuclear energy; however, it is widely believed to possess a nuclear weapons arsenal.
