Turkey lifts NATO veto over Israel

 

 

Turkey partially lifted its veto on Israel’s participation in NATO partnership programs, in response to some NATO members’ lifting of vetoes on partnership activities with Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan and countries in the Balkans and Caucasus, diplomatic sources have said. Despite their unresolved disputes, Turkey lifted its blockade on Israel’s participation in non-military NATO activities in 2013, such as meetings and workshops. The reconciliation was initiated by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen at a recent meeting of NATO foreign ministers two weeks ago in Brussels. However, Turkey stressed that Turkish and Israeli soldiers would never encounter each other during any NATO activities.