Nato seeks greater co-operation with Israel

Nato wants to increase its military co-operation with Israel, especially in the areas of sharing intelligence and fighting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the alliance’s secretary general said in an interview published today.

But Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told Israel’s Haaretz daily that Nato’s recent focus on the Mediterranean Dialogue, a forum of Israel and six Arab countries, is not “designed as a first step to a future membership”.

In recent months, Israel has shown an interest in joining the 26-member alliance, but Arab countries would not look favourably upon such a partnership without an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.

Nato’s talks with Israel and other Mideast countries are carefully balanced, “given the sensitivities in the region”, de Hoop Scheffer said.

Israel currently participates in several Nato forums, and in recent months participated for the first time in joint military exercises with the alliance. The co-operation also includes intelligence-sharing and consultancy on security issues.

De Hoop Scheffer said his arrival in Israel, and meetings with prime minister Ariel Sharon and foreign minister Silvan Shalom are intended to enhance “the political and practical dimensions” of Nato’s dialogue with Middle East countries.

Nato especially wants to upgrade co-operation “in areas such as the military-to-military co-operation to achieve a better interoperability between our forces, the fight against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction”, he said.

Nato is “looking favourably” at an Israeli proposal to upgrade relations, including intelligence-sharing, and access to research and development funds and Nato’s spare parts network, which allows member states to exchange needed military equipment, de Hoop Scheffer said.

In a commentary in The Jerusalem Post today, Ron Prosor, the director-general of Israel’s foreign ministry, said Israel’s inclusion in Nato “is not on the table at the moment”.

“But on offer today are enhanced ties including intelligence-sharing, military exercises, operational doctrines, logistics and support, and civil emergency response and training,” Prosor said.

De Hoop Scheffer repeated an earlier statement that Nato would consider sending peacekeeping troops to guarantee a treaty if Israel and the Palestinians were to request their presence after reaching a peace agreement.

Such a troop presence would require a UN mandate and agreement by both parties, he added.