Israel to join NATO anti-terror force
By The Associated Press and Haaretz Service Last update - 14:48 20/11/2009
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129612.html

Israeli 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, aimed
aimed to prevent the passage of terrorists and weapons of mass destruction
as well as improve the security of the region's shipping industry.

Israeli 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.