Population: 6.5 million

Democracy.

Has fought four wars with its Arab neighbors; continuing clashes with Palestinians.

NPT: Has not joined and has not acknowledged that it has nuclear weapons..

NUCLEAR WEAPONS: YES

Has advanced nuclear weapons capability and is thought to possess enough nuclear material for 98 to 172 weapons..

NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES:

-- Estimated to have produced 240 to 425 pounds of weapons-grade plutonium since Dimona nuclear research reactor started up in 1964.

-- Israel produced its first nuclear device from plutonium separated from spent fuel rods in late 1966 or 1967.

-- Has 5 nuclear weapons complexes, uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing plants, and other advanced processing plants. .

DELIVERY SYSTEM: Israels missile program began in the 1960s, with French aid.

-- The strongest military power in the region, Israel has deployed about 100 short-range and medium-range missiles the Jericho-1 (300 miles) and the Jericho-2 (900 miles). Both are capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

-- Has U.S.-made F-16, and possibly F-15I, fighter-bombers thatcan carry nuclear bombs.

-- Also may be developing a nuclear capability for its submarines.

[Source: The San Francisco Chronicle, "The dangerous world of nuclear weapons", FEBRUARY 22, 2004, p. A21]