Israel warship to join NATO anti-terror force
Israel officials say move marks a significant upgrade in Jerusalem's relationship with the alliance.
By Haaretz Service and The Associated Press Tags: Turkey Israel news IDFIsraeli and North Atlantic Treaty Organization officials say Israel will dispatch a warship to join a NATO naval force, marking an upgrade in ties.
An Israeli missile ship will join NATO's Active Endeavor naval force, which works to prevent the passage of terrorists and weapons of mass destruction as well as improve the security of the region's shipping industry.
Defense officials say Israel already has a liaison officer with the naval force. They say the dispatch of the ship within months marks an important step up in Israel's relationship with the NATO alliance.
The move was discussed this week by Israel's military chief of staff and NATO's visiting military commander, Giampaolo Di Paola.
In Brussels, NATO spokesman James Appathurai said Friday the alliance separates such activities from political events in the Middle East.
In July Haaretz reported that Israel was to issue a request to allow it to join NATO's Active Endeavor naval force.
While Israel is not a member of NATO, other non-members are taking part in the operation, including ships from Russia and Ukraine.
It was reported that a solution would be found to avoid Israeli ships approaching the shores of Arab countries, particularly those with which Israel has no diplomatic relations - including Syria, Lebanon and certain North African countries.
The intent is for an Israeli gunboat to occasionally join one of the month-long operations of Active Endeavour, which has been underway since 2001.
Israel would not require major preparation to join the NATO operation, and its delegation would focus on control and monitoring procedures, as well as coordination of communications terminology.
Sources in the army view joining the operation as important both in terms of stepping up Israel's relations with NATO, as well as its image - as Israel is often accused of aggression in enforcing the siege on Gaza by sea.
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"Kick Turkey out of NATO"?? Are you really that stupid?? Turkey is the second biggest military force of NATO after USA, what do you think NATO will be able to do without Turkey??
allowing the outlaws to take a lawful role in Nato.... What is wrong with those people in Brussels? It's like the fox in the chicken coop..... Disgusted, Dutch
Israel wants to extend its influence into the Meddeteranian because it has learned its own borders are to small to protect so better be able to deal with threats before they become threats & be able to monitor its enemies. This is just stage 1 Israel getting used to operating beyond its shores. Israel has also recently taken delivery of another 2 submarines from Germany so now it has a fleet of 5 allowing it to keep at least 1 sub at sea all the time. So is there a sub shadowing this ship undeclared to NATO or if it is declared to possibly the US its kept quiet from the rest of the world to avoid political problems with the arabs who might not feel comfortable with an Israeli sub on their doorstep. This is a step in the right direction for Israel .. its time that we made sure the enemy know Israels military has a long arm and can hit them from all directions.
Turkey is well on the way to Islamization and Iranization. A true democracy it is not.
Better with Nato than with Turkey.
If I live to be a thousand, I'll never understand why "Western" nations like the U.S. and Europe are so eager to drag themselves down and damage their own interests by hanging the Israeli albatross around their neck.
And citing it as an "upgrade" of international ties. But hey, if Israel does join NATO, all of its nuclear weapons will finally have to be revealed. Oh the irony!
Sends a message to Iran. "Choose Israel or choose Iran". NATO has chosen. This is idiotic. It has nothing whatsoever to do with Iran, Israel, or choosing between the human rights' violations of either country. it is purely strategic. Israel has good (US bought) ships. Israel's attempt to play this like some kind of upgrade in Nato ties or international relations is pretty sad, but funny. Reminds me of the dorky kid in highschool who mistakes the jocks' invitation to clean the towels as a show of friendship.
This is important. Sends a message to Iran. "Choose Israel or choose Iran". NATO has chosen. Something to do with modern, democratic, liberal. There are no such words in Ahmedinejad and and the Muttering Madhatter Mullahs' lexicon.