November 21, 2009

Ties between Israel and NATO have firmed with the decision by NATO to tap the Israeli navy for assistance.

Israel will send one of its warships to the Mediterranean to join NATO's Active Endeavor naval force, patrols the Eastern Mediterranean and monitors shipping to help detect, deter and protect against terrorist activity, boarding ships when necessary.

The operation is conducted from the Allied Maritime Component Command Naples, Italy through a Task Force deployed in the Mediterranean.

An Israeli liason officer is already with the force.

The Deputy Secretary-General of NATO Claudio Bisogniero will will be in Israel on Monday and Tuesday of next week. He will lead a delegation which will conduct high level talks with Israeli officials on the Israeli participation in the Mediterranean.

During his visit to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Bisogniero will meet with Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Avigdor Liberman, the Chairman and members of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the Knesset, the Deputy Minister of Defense Matan Vilnai, the Head of the National Security Council of Israel Dr.Uzi Arad, and other government officials.

If all goes according to plam the Israeli warship will likely join the NATO force early next year.

Arrangements have been agreed for the Israeli vessel to circumvent missions involving Arab territorial waters.