 "NATO to strengthen cooperation with Israel: Jens Stoltenberg")
NATO is committed to increasing cooperation with Israel, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said here on Tuesday while meeting Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.
"For more than 20 years, Israel has been a very active NATO partner through the Mediterranean dialogue, the only security forum that brings together NATO Allies with Israel and Arab countries," Stoltenberg said at the NATO headquarters.
He stressed that NATO and Israel are taking cooperation a step further, agreeing to establish an Israeli Mission at NATO, headed by Israel's Ambassador to the European Union, according to a NATO press release, Xinhua reported.
Stoltenberg noted that Israel was the first Mediterranean dialogue country to agree a Security of Information Agreement with NATO in 2001.
He highlighted that NATO is committed to increasing cooperation with Israel, as well as with other Mediterranean dialogue partners.
They also discussed the evolving security situation in the Middle East and Africa.
Stoltenberg expressed his condolences on the recent terrorist attacks in Tel Aviv, which killed at least four Israelis.