Latest News

Turkey has reportedly agreed to Israeli participation in NATO activities in order to get Patriot missiles on its border with Syria, the Jerusalem Post reported on Sunday.

The Israeli newspaper said Israel will join a 2013 NATO military drill in Turkey, despite tense diplomatic ties between the two states.

“At the last minute – and I think it was dependent on the Patriots – it was approved,” an Israeli military official told the newspaper on condition of anonymity, referring to Turkey’s request to position the defensive missile batteries along its border with Syria.

However, there has been no “total solution” of the standoff between Ankara and Tel Aviv, the source added.

Read more ....


Turkey lifts objection to NATO cooperation with Israel -- Reuters
Turkey lifts NATO Israel veto -- The Australian
Israel to participate in NATO events -- UPI
Turkey retracts veto on NATO cooperation with Israel -- Times of Israel
US pressure behind Turkey’s NATO move -- Hurriyet News
Turkey Prefers Bluster Over Balance In Dealing with Israel -- Al-Monitor
Sundown: An Israeli-Turkish Détente? -- The Tablet

My Comment: Turkey acquiesce to NATO`s (i.e. the U.S.) demands on the removal of their veto on Israel was done for the simple reason that they want NATO Patriot Defense batteries positioned on the border that they share with the rapidly chaotic and disintegrating state of Syria. The chaos and the risk of spillover from the Syrian civil war into Turkey is Turkey`s main focus of concern right now .... their differences with Israel are still there but pale to what a fractured Syria with unsecured WMDs in the hands of angry Assad military loyalists, jihadists or radical Kurds can do to Turkey.