Israel’s defense minister Benny Gantz at a cabinet meeting, this week.Credit: Ohad Zwigenberg
How Israel’s Defense Minister Embarrassed NATO Over Iran
Yossi Melman- Haaretz -Aug 11,2021
During a briefing with the ambassadors to Israel of the 15 members of the UN Security Council, Defense Minister Benny Gantz made a strange, some might say disdainful, remark about NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
The briefing, in which Foreign Minister Yair Lapid also participated, was after Iran’s attack against the ship Mercer Street, which is partially owned by the Ofer family, killing its Romanian captain and British security officer.
The briefing was attended by representatives of the Security Council’s five permanent members: the United States, China, Russia, Great Britain and France; they were joined by representatives of the 10 rotating members – the United Arab Emirates, Ireland, Albania, Brazil, Ghana, Gabon, India, Mexico, Norway, and Kenya. They were also joined by the Romanian ambassador.
Five of those present in the room represented countries belonging to NATO – the United States, Great Britain, France, Norway and Romania.
It bears noting that Israel has the status of a NATO Mediterranean Dialogue partner and in the past participated in maritime campaigns against piracy in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Read the original article on Haaretz


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