World Tribune.com

Israel joins first NATO exercise

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, June 26, 2006

TEL AVIV — Israel has begun participation in its first NATO exercise.

The Israel Navy has contributed a surface vessel to NATO's Cooperation Mako, which began on Sunday, Middle East Newsline reported. Officials said Israel sent a Saar-5-class multi-mission missile boat for the Black Sea exercise off the coast of Romania.

The deployment of the navy's Eilat vessel marked the first time Israel has participated in a NATO exercise. Until now, Israel's military served as an observer.

Since 1994, Israel has been a member of NATO's Mediterranean Dialogue, a seven-member group that also contains Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia. Over the last year, NATO has offered group members participation in exercises and an intelligence exchange.

Officials said Israel has offered to contribute to NATO search-and-rescue as well as peace-keeping missions. But they said Israel would not deploy troops.

Israel also plans to participate in NATO's Operation Active Endeavor, designed to battle Al Qaida and weapons of mass destruction in the Mediterranean. Officials said the navy intends to post a senior officer in Naples, the headquarters of the operation.


Copyright © 2006 East West Services, Inc.

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