Turkey removes Nato block to Israel

Turkey has given approval for Israel to participate in non-military Nato activities in 2013, withdrawing an earlier objection driven by an ongoing dispute between the former regional allies, a Turkish official said yesterday.

Relations between Israel and what was once its only Muslim ally crumbled after Israeli marines stormed the Mavi Marmara aid ship in May 2010 to enforce a naval blockade of the Palestinianrun Gaza Strip and killed nine Turks in clashes with activists on board.

The rift has continued despite United States efforts to encourage a rapprochement between the two regional powers whose co- operation it needs to address changes sweeping the Middle East.

Turkey, a Nato member, refused to allow Israel to take part in an alliance summit last May because the Jewish state had not apologised for the 2010 killings and Ankara has objected to any increased co-operation. While not a Nato member, Israel is part of the Mediterranean Dialogue, a Nato outreach programme and had participated in summits and training exercises.

Turkey will now agree to Israel taking part in some Nato activities next year but remains opposed to joint military exercises.

Once close allies, Israel and Turkey, which both border Syria, used to share intelligence information and conduct joint military exercises.

But after a UN report into the Mavi Marmara incident released in September last year largely exonerated Israel, Turkey expelled Israel’s ambassador and froze military co-operation.