The United Nations nuclear watchdog chief plans to visit Israel this summer in an effort to promote non-proliferation and a nuclear weapon-free zone in the Middle East, diplomats here said Wednesday.

During the planned visit, Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), will hold talks with high-profile Israeli officials on non-proliferation promotion and regional denuclearization.

ElBaradei's visit, his first to Israel over the past six years,is at the invitation of Israel, but the exact date and agenda have not been set, Israel's representative to the IAEA Gabriella Gafni told the press Wednesday.

She described the visit as "routine," saying Israel welcomes his trip.

Melissa Fleming, spokeswoman for the Vienna-based IAEA, confirmed Wednesday that the agency is preparing for ElBaradei's visit, which she said would be used to promote non-proliferation and a nuclear weapon-free zone in the Middle East, and to discuss bilateral cooperation in nuclear science and applications.

Israel, a member of the IAEA, but not a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), maintains a nuclear strategy of neither denying nor confirming it has nuclear arsenals.

Experts estimate that Israel now boasts between 100 to 200 nuclear warheads.

The international community has called on Israel to sign the NPT and dismantle its nuclear stockpile, a demand ignored by the country.

During an IAEA meeting last September, the 137-member agency passed a resolution appealing for a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East.

Source: Xinhua