NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Created in 1949 by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union, NATO was the first peacetime military alliance the United States entered into outside of the Western Hemisphere.
Israel, being located in the Levant (First, it was a term used in reference to ancient lands along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the Old Testament of the Bible during the Bronze Age. During that time the Levant was made up of different kingdoms, including: The Kingdom of Israel; The Kingdom of Ammon; and, The Kingdom of Moab. The Levant is one of the earliest centers of sedentism and agriculture throughout history, and some of the earliest agrarian cultures, Pre-Pottery Neolithic, developed in the region.). While it has had close security cooperation with the US and other Western countries, Israel has not sought formal membership in defense alliances like NATO. Turkey, a neighbor of Israel, on the other hand, joined NATO in 1952.
The questions now, should be, is it time for Israel to ask for acceptance into NATO and/or is it time for Turkey to be expelled from NATO?
Israel will not be accepted into NATO and I believe she knows this. Anti-semitism runs long and deep in much of the world. My take …… and I may be wrong, but there are many young people today who seem to carry this torch against Israel, and I have my doubts that they can even explain why …… other than that they see others do it.
What seems to have worked well for Israel, though, are the Abraham Accords. The Accords have brought about partnerships, business prospects, cultural exchanges, and other alliances.
Israel sought to create an ‘Abraham Alliance‘ with the US and UK to counter Iranian threats, following coordinated defenses against recent missile and drone attacks. Amid rising tensions, Israeli, American, and British defense leaders called for restraint. President Biden proposed additional US military support for Israel, urging a cease-fire to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Israel is seeking to form an “Abraham Alliance” with the United States and the United Kingdom, aiming to establish a Nato-like accord to counter threats from Iran and its allies. This initiative follows a coordinated defense in April, during which Israeli air defenses, supported by the US and other allies, repelled an Iranian missile and drone attack.
The current situation has heightened tensions, with fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East as Iran threatens retaliation for the recent assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, a political leader of Hamas.
Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant stressed the need for a coalition to defend against Iran’s proxies, highlighting recent security developments in talks with his American and British counterparts, Lloyd Austin and John Healey.
Gallant said, “Meeting with senior leaders across the region, including today in Israel, we urged all sides to show restraint and dial down the tension at this critical moment.” The discussions come amidst concerns of spillover from the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, which has persisted for nearly ten months.
The Pentagon has indicated that the US is prepared to bolster its presence in the region, with defence secretary Austin stating, “We certainly will help defend Israel if attacked.” President Joe Biden has assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of additional US military deployments, while also urging a cease-fire in Gaza to mitigate the humanitarian crisis.
The potential for escalation is high, with Iran’s options ranging from direct attacks on Israel to increased aggression by its regional proxies. This follows the killing of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut and the subsequent assassination of Haniyeh in Tehran. While Israel has not explicitly claimed responsibility for these killings, it has not denied involvement either.
President Biden, in a statement, emphasising the importance of a cease-fire said, “Meeting with senior leaders across the region, including today in Israel, we urged all sides to show restraint and dial down the tension at this critical moment.” The President has struggled to influence Netanyahu’s war strategy, seeking to pressure him publicly and privately but stopping short of leveraging the billions of dollars in US military aid.
UK defence secretary John Healey also called for restraint and urged the need for an immediate cease-fire and humanitarian aid for Gaza. Despite international criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, Netanyahu continues to focus on the existential threat posed by Iran and its allies, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis in Yemen, all of which are part of the so-called Axis of Resistance. The proposed “Abraham Alliance” could serve as a strategic framework for regional security, potentially including both military and diplomatic efforts to contain Iran’s influence and prevent further escalation.
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