Israel not invited to NATO summit in Chicago

CBS/AP

(AP) BRUSSELS - Israel will not be invited to NATO's May 20-21 summit in Chicago, the alliance's top official said Friday. But he denied that alliance member Turkey had blocked Israel's participation.

Instead, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the reason is because Israel does not participate in NATO's main military missions.

News reports have claimed that Turkey blocked Israel's participation because of the raid in 2010 by Israeli troops on ships heading to Gaza in which eight Turks and a Turkish-American died.

NATO has a system of partnerships with dozens of nations across the globe such as the Mediterranean Dialogue, a NATO outreach program with seven friendly nations, including Israel.

In the past, partner nations did not usually attend the alliance's summits. But Fogh Rasmussen said 13 would do so this time.

"At the Lisbon summit (in 2010), we made clear that we would enhance dialogue and cooperation with partner nations ... because in today's world security challenges know no borders, and no country or alliance can deal with most of them on their own," he told journalists.

Two other members of the Mediterranean group, Jordan and Morocco, are among them. But Fogh Rasmussen said Israel is not because it does not participate in missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo.

"Israel has not been invited to attend the summit because Israel is neither a participant in ISAF nor in KFOR ... no one has blocked an invitation because it's not been an issue," Fogh Rasmussen said. ISAF and KFOR are acronyms for coalition forces in Afghanistan and Kosovo.

Earlier this year, Turkey scuttled a plan to include an Israeli warship in a NATO-run flotilla patrolling the Mediterranean.

In the past, Israeli warships and air force jets have joined in some NATO exercises, but Israel's participation in the naval operation would the first time its armed forces have taken part in one of the alliance's military operations.

Representatives of about 60 nations and international organizations will attend the Chicago conference. Partner nations include include Sweden, Switzerland, Qatar, Georgia, Australia and New Zealand.

Representatives of Russia and several Central Asian states also have been invited to discuss the war in Afghanistan — the summit's main focus — "because they provide important transit arrangements to the benefit of our operation," Fogh Rasmussen said.

The alliance has repeatedly said it is prepared to enhance practical cooperation with all partner nations in the region, including Israel. But some members have opposed past attempts to forge closer cooperation with the Jewish state, saying that could hurt the alliance's relations with other Muslim countries, including Afghanistan, which remains NATO's top operational priority.

[LeJardin_CBS]

Search deep, deep within your memory banks... see if you can dredge up the reference made in the above article to the 13 other "partner nations...across the globe" who *are* invited... dingbat.

[tudognight]

Nato will be involved soon enough. Netanyahu is already stirring up the masses for war with Iran. Every Jewish pundit in America, from Comedians to News Reporters is beginning to tow the line. A dictator movie has to have the villan look and talk and act like an Arab. The ridicule of Arab appearing people as terrorists and fanatics is just the beginning salvo to dehumanize the arabs. As sub human, unfeeling, unjust people who while they are laughing at them will not cheer when Atomic Shock and Awe is unloaded upon them. Like the Old Jewish Commedians, the 3 stooges would say...."we will moiderize them"...and the canned laughter will follow!

[LeJardin_CBS]

I hope you're right!

[boatdocster]

Is Israel a member of NATO? NO

Simple

[LeJardin_CBS]

Not quite able to read yet, eh? It says that 13 "partner nations" -- not members of NATO -- are invited. Simple. Simpleton.

[AIPACspyonUS]

Israel is a terrorist, racist, apartheid, theocracy.

[cbsviewer123]

AIPACspyonUS is a terrorist, racist, ugly animal.

[Bryon_Evans]

NATO = North Atlantic Trade Organization.

Israel is nowhere near the "North Atlantic". This is so bizarre it's funny.

[sawolf]

But jordan is???

[LeJardin_CBS]

Search deep, deep within your memory banks... see if you can dredge up the reference made in the above article to the 13 other "partner nations...across the globe" who *are* invited... dingbat.

[lesserof2evil]

Israel should consider itself lucky. The only reason its leaders are not prosecuted for war crimes is its big brother (the USA) vetoes any international attempt of doing so.

[sawolf]

Lucky for defending itself against those that target her children for political/ religious insanity? F off.

[AIPACspyonUS]

List of Israeli war criminals:

http : //s242816488.onlinehome . us/criminals2/

[AOCGUY]

I see no reason Israel should have been invited nor why that would have wanted to attend. Israel is not a member of NATO and apparantly the NATO conference will not be covering any issues relevant to Israel.

[LeJardin_CBS]

Wow! Yet *another* illiterate! It says, right above you, in black and white, that NATO invites "partner nations" from "across the globe," and 13 other such nations will be in attendance! What don't you understand about that? So to be omitted is to be miss a pretty broad-based summit.

[credibility2]

Israel should consider itself lucky that they won't have to be part of the circus. I live within the Chicago-area and it's not going to be an enjoyable few days with all the idiot protesters coming out in force to oppose this gathering. There are preparations for mass civil and uncivil disobedience, protests, etc. Major museums are closing down as a security and precautionary measure, schools and businesses are also closing, workers are planning on taking their vacations, residents are being urged to leave the area, etc. Police are readying for major classes and disruption, while the idiot politicians and planners who favor this intrusion on the rights of the majority are already waving their banners for a job well done. It remains to be seen.

[cbsnews_viewer]

Interesting

[smoke62]

This seems a little strange to me. Israel is a soverign nation and part of the world struggle. Bringing their military into any of these conflicts would certainly cause more trouble than anything. They do not participate now and they are being blamed for everything. If their troops were sent in to help, the terrorists would see this as confirmation for their involvement. I believe it wise for them to stay within their borders in these middle east situations.