In 2023, a dual US-Israeli citizen arrived at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport to find his passport flagged. An Interpol Red Notice had been issued at the request of Germany, where he was wanted for alleged tax evasion. Within 72 hours, our firm had filed an emergency CCF application and an objection with the Israeli Ministry of Justice. The Red Notice was suspended pending proceedings. He remained free.
Extradition is one of the most misunderstood areas of international law. Many people assume that countries automatically hand over suspects — or conversely, that certain countries are permanent safe havens. Neither is correct. Extradition depends on bilateral treaties, domestic law, and the specific facts of each case.
This guide explains which countries have no extradition treaty with the UK, US and Israel, and what this means in practice for Israeli nationals facing international criminal proceedings.
What Is an Extradition Treaty?
An extradition treaty is a bilateral agreement between two states in which each agrees to hand over persons accused or convicted of crimes to the other. Without such a treaty, a country has no legal obligation to extradite — though it may choose to do so voluntarily.
Key principles that apply in almost all extradition treaties:
- Dual criminality: the act must be a crime in both countries
- Political offence exception: purely political offences are generally not extraditable
- Specialty principle: the extradited person can only be tried for offences specified in the extradition request
- Non-extradition of nationals: many countries refuse to extradite their own citizens
Countries with No Extradition Treaty with the UK
The United Kingdom has extradition agreements with approximately 100 countries. The following major countries have no extradition treaty with the UK:
| Region | Countries | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Middle East | UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman | No bilateral treaties; informal cooperation possible |
| Asia | China, Russia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Nepal, Cambodia | China and Russia cooperate selectively on their own terms |
| Africa | Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Guinea, Mali | Commonwealth countries may cooperate informally |
| Americas | Cuba, Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador | Political dynamics affect cooperation |
| Europe | Russia, Belarus, Serbia (limited) | Post-Brexit changes affect some arrangements |
Countries with No Extradition Treaty with the US
The United States has extradition treaties with approximately 107 countries. Notable countries without a US extradition treaty include:
- Russia — no treaty; formal extradition requests almost never succeed
- China — no bilateral treaty; the US and China have never agreed on one
- United Arab Emirates — no formal treaty (though informal cooperation is growing rapidly post-Abraham Accords)
- Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman
- Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar
- Bolivia, Venezuela, Cuba — political hostility makes cooperation unlikely
- Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Guinea
Important caveat for 2025: The US increasingly uses alternative means when formal extradition fails — including interpol notices, deportation proceedings, and diplomatic pressure. Several individuals in non-treaty countries have been effectively removed without formal extradition.
Countries with No Extradition Treaty with Israel
Israel has extradition treaties with approximately 60 countries. Major countries with no extradition treaty with Israel include:
- Russia — no bilateral extradition treaty
- Most Arab states — no diplomatic relations or treaties (though this is changing in post-Abraham Accords era)
- China — no extradition treaty
- Iran — hostile state; no cooperation
- Most African nations — no bilateral treaties
- Cuba, Bolivia, Venezuela
However, even in the absence of a treaty, Israel operates under the Extradition Law 5714-1954, which allows the government to cooperate with extradition requests on a case-by-case basis, subject to court approval. The absence of a treaty strengthens the legal arguments available to defendants in Israeli courts.
Does "Non-Extradition" Mean Safety?
Not necessarily. Several critical points:
- Interpol Red Notices — these operate independently of extradition treaties. A Red Notice can lead to provisional arrest in any of 196 member states, including non-treaty countries. The person is then held while the requesting state files a formal extradition request.
- Deportation — many countries deport individuals to states that want them, bypassing the formal extradition process and its legal protections.
- Changing relationships — the Abraham Accords (2020) significantly changed the Israel-UAE and Israel-Bahrain relationship. Cooperation that was unthinkable before 2020 is now increasingly common.
- US jurisdiction — the US asserts extremely broad jurisdiction, including for offences committed entirely outside the US involving US persons, US companies, US dollar transactions, or US communications infrastructure.
What If You Are an Israeli National Facing Extradition?
As an Israeli national, you have significant legal protections regardless of which country is requesting your extradition:
- Israeli courts conduct an independent review of all extradition requests
- Dual criminality must be established under Israeli law
- Your human rights must be respected in the requesting state
- Political offences are not extraditable
- The CCF can delete any unlawful Interpol Red Notice that underlies the extradition request
If you are facing an extradition request — or believe a Red Notice may have been issued against you — immediate legal advice is critical. The sooner specialist counsel is engaged, the greater your legal options.