[UPI] Joshua Brilliant - Slowly and without much fanfare Israel is tightening its cooperation with NATO. An Israeli corvette this summer participated in a NATO exercise in Romania. Infantrymen joined war games in the Ukraine and a NATO AWACS plane was in Israel demonstrating its capabilities. The notion that Iran, that openly hopes Israel would be liquidated, would have a nuclear bomb is troubling and has heightened Israel's realization that it needs partners to stop Iran, a country 82 times bigger than Israel. Israel itself hasn't decided how far it wants to go with NATO. Retired intelligence Col. Eran Lerman says Israelis are not sure their country should become a full member, which might restrict Israel's freedom to retaliate, initiate military action, and would reduce its independent deterrence.
2006-10-27 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive