UN atomic watchdog chief Yukiya Amano arrived in Israel on Monday on his first visit since taking up the post last December, Israeli media reported.

The Israeli foreign ministry spokesman could not be reached for confirmation of Amano's arrival but President Shimon Peres' office said the two men were scheduled to meet in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

Israeli news site Ynet said Amano would also meet the director of Israel's Atomic Energy Commission, Shaul Horev.

The visit comes against a backdrop of demands by some members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that Israel, generally considered to be the Middle East's sole if undeclared nuclear-armed power, sign up to the international Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Israel is sure to raise with Amano its concerns about Iran's nuclear programme, which Israel, the United States and much of the international community believe is ultimately aimed at producing weapons.

Iran, which on Saturday, began loading fuel into its Russian-built first nuclear power plant, denies the allegations, saying its programme is for civil energy purposes only.

Haaretz newspaper's veteran security correspondent Yossi Melman wrote on the daily's web site that Amano's visit indicated an intention to improve relations between the agency and Israel.

Ties between the IAEA and Israel were chilly during the tenure of Amano's predecessor, Mohamed ElBaradei, who visited Israel twice during his 12 years in office, Haaretz said.

Last month Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured assurances from US President Barack Obama that a proposed 2012 conference on establishing a Middle East free of nuclear weapons would not single out Israel.