Israel discusses closer co-operation with Nato

Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz discussed closer military co-operation with Nato today during a visit to the headquarters of the Western alliance.

Nato officials said the visit was in the context of the alliance’s Mediterranean outreach programme, which includes Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan, as well as Israel.

Peretz is scheduled to join ministers from those Arab nations in a meeting with their Nato counterparts on February 9 in Seville, Spain.

Issues discussed today included possible Israeli participation in anti-terrorist patrols by Nato navy vessels in the Mediterranean, intelligence sharing and technical co-operation between Israeli and Nato forces, said an allied official.