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#Israel: Significant upgrade of Israel’s ties with NATO

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unnamedIsrael’s ambassador to the EU and NATO David Walzer (pictured) announced Tuesday (3 May) that Turkey has removed its veto on Israel’s upgraded cooperation with Israel.  The North Atantic Treaty Organization, an intergovernmental military alliance of 28 nations, confirmed that Israel would be permitted to open a permanent office in the orgaization headquarters in Brussels which represents a significant upgrade of ties.  Israel is not a member of NATO but enjoys military and security cooperation with the bloc.

It is part of the Mediterranean Dialogue, a NATO outreach programme involving seven allied countries in the Mediterranean region. However, the new status brings relations between Israel and NATO significantly closer.

The announcement came after prolonged diplomatic efforts by Israel’s Foreign and Defense Ministries as well as the National Security Council.  “NATO informed Israel this evening that Israel will be able to open an office at the organization’s headquarters in Brussels and complete the process of accepting the credentials of its representative to NATO,” an Israeli statement said.

"Israel wishes to thank its allies in the organization for their support and efforts on the issue,” the Foreign Ministry said. Israeli Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the announcement and said, "I welcome NATO’s announcement. This is an important step in helping Israel's security. It is an additional testimony to Israel's position and the desire of many factors to cooperate with us in the field of security.”

NATO currently has around 40 partner nations, including Australia, India, Japan, Pakistan and Russia. Its partnerships include ones with European non-NATO countries, the Mediterranean basin and Persian Gulf states.  NATO’s treaty requires the alliance to militarily defend members nations, of which there are 28, but not partner ones. Still, partner states regularly contribute to NATO operations such as those in Afghanistan and naval missions off Somalia and in the Mediterranean Sea.

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