Special to WorldTribune.com

JERUSALEM — Despite a U.S.-arranged reconciliation, Turkey continues to block NATO programs with Israel.

Greece’s ambassador to Israel asserted that Ankara has not lifted its ban on military cooperation with Israel.

Ambassador Spiros Lampridis said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has used Ankara’s veto power to block NATO exercises and other activities with the Jewish state.

“We were hoping that after the arrangement between [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and [Prime Minister Recep] Erdogan in the spring, Turkey would pull back a little and allow some of the programs,” Lampridis said. “But there is nothing.”

In an interview with the Israeli daily Jerusalem Post, Lampridis said Turkey was blocking “even the most innocent,” NATO activities with Israel. The ambassador cited intelligence exchanges, research and development as well as military and security exercises.

In March 2013, U.S. President Barack Obama arranged a reconciliation
agreement between Israel and Turkey. The agreement included compensation for
the death of eight Turks during an attempt to reach the Israeli-blockaded
Gaza Strip in 2010. Over the last few months, Israel approved military sales
frozen to Turkey.

The Greek ambassador said Turkey’s refusal to work with Israel has
blocked NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue. The seven-member dialogue, which
included Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Mauritania and Morocco, was meant to work
with the Western alliance as a group.

“We can’t cooperate with any of them because the programs are all
blocked,” Lampridis said. “Nothing can go through.”

  Benjamin Netanyahu, Recep Erdogan, Spiros Lampridis, Turkey using its veto power to stop all NATO interaction with Israel