Publication

This policy brief discusses the proposal to hold a conference on a weapons of mass destruction free zone (WMDFZ) in the Middle East. The establishment of such a conference was recommended in the NPT Review Conference Final Document, but has not produced tangible progress at official levels thus far. The recommendation has generated much discussion at unofficial levels, however, both in Israel and in broader regional frameworks. The unofficial debates illustrate the gulf between the positions of Israel and Egypt. Egyptian participants highlight the nuclear issue almost exclusively, whereas Israeli participants stress the importance of wider regional concerns.