Even as the United States pushes to conclude the civilian nuclear deal with India, an Israeli move in the Nuclear Suppliers Group threatens to complicate the Bush administration's agenda for New Delhi, the Washington Post has said.

Documents outlining Israel's proposal -- pushing a key group of nations engaged in nuclear trade to adopt new guidelines allowing the transfer of nuclear technology to States that have not signed the non-proliferation treaty -- were distributed to the 45-member NSG in March and have been circulated in the US Congress, The Post reported.

The Israeli presentation, made in a 'nonpaper' that allows for official deniability, was offered in the context of NSG's debate over India's bid for an exemption, according to a March 17 letter by the NSG's chairman.

Israel has never publicly acknowledged having nuclear weapons, but is generally considered to possess them.

'It is a well-know secret that Israel has a nuclear programme and there is no confirmation of any nuclear weapons in the Jewish state, but estimates of the stockpile are between 75 and 400,' the media report states.

Among the nations that have not signed the treaty, only India and Israel will qualify for admission to the NSG under the Israeli proposal.

David Siegel, spokesperson for the Israeli embassy, said it will be 'grossly inaccurate' to suggest that Israel is demanding an exemption or linking its efforts to any other issue, such as the India debate.

'Israel has never asked the NSG for any exemption to its nuclear supply guidelines, nor has it made any Israeli-specific request of the NSG,' Siegel has told The Post.

The Israeli spokesperson noted that some NSG countries previously had suggested such an approach.

'Israel, recognized to be a full-fledged adherent to the NSG guidelines, has urged the NSG to consider adopting a generic, multi-tiered, criteria-based approach towards nuclear technology transfers.'

According to the media report, the Israeli plan offers 12 criteria for allowing nuclear trade with non-treaty States, including one that hints at Israel's status as an undeclared nuclear weapons State: A State should be allowed to engage in nuclear trade if it applies 'stringent physical protection, control and accountancy measures to all nuclear weapons, nuclear facilities, source material and special nuclear material in its territory.'

'The dynamics at the NSG are that no country wants to stand in the way of the largest country, India, and the most powerful country, the United States,' Daryl Kimbal, the executive director of the Arms Control Association has said.

But he has argued that when the NSG meets in November, consensus on India will be hard to reach.

'Israel's proposal gives some countries a reason to suggest an alternative approach to a specific exemption,' he said.

Kimball, according to the report, has said that Israel has a record as good or better than that of India's in following international nuclear rules.

'Delays in winning approval for India will be troubling for President George Bush [Images] and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who view the pact as an important part of their foreign policy legacy. The deal is stirring controversy in India while Congress must still give approval, making delay until an election year potentially fatal,' The Post has said.