Why is Israel not in NATO?

Israel is a nuclear power.

It has one of the most powerful armies in the world – equipped with state-of-the-art weapons, trained and hardened in real battles.

And it’s no accident.

Since its inception at the site of the British and Ottoman Empires, Israel has fought for its survival, being attacked by its neighbors from the very beginning.

The country has over 4,000 modern tanks and armored vehicles, as well as over 2,000 combat aircraft and helicopters. The entire territory of Israel is protected by a missile shield, the so-called „Iron Dome“.

Probably since 1967, the country has had its own nuclear weapon, developed at the atomic research center near Dimona, in the Negev desert.

Why is Israel not a member of NATO?

There are 5 main reasons for this.

1. This is outside the rules. NATO is the North Atlantic Defense Pact. Israel is not geographically in this region.

At the same time, many other members such as Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria are not in the North Atlantic region at all.

However, Article 10 states that the pact is open to any European country.

However, Turkey is almost entirely an Asian country. However, the article only affects future enlargements, not core members such as Turkey, which has been in NATO since 1951, almost since its inception.

Of course, the rule can be changed.

2. Turkey will never allow it.

NATO’s terms are based on democracy and require all countries to agree to decisions to accept new members.

If one party does not agree, no new member can be admitted even if all the others are.

Turkey showed this by refusing to initially host Finland and Sweden in 2022.

However, NATO extended an invitation to Israel for close cooperation in 2010.

Israel has an office at NATO headquarters in Brussels along with Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE.

3. Israel is almost constantly at war

This, perhaps, is the main obstacle for Israel.

The Arab-Israeli wars have actually never stopped since the establishment of the state in 1948.

One of the conditions for membership in NATO is that the countries do not have disputed international, ethnic territories, but that they have settled them with peace treaties.

Israel has 4 territories that are disputed.

The West Bank, Gaza, the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem.

They do not have a signed peace treaty.

An attack on Israel would involve NATO in a major conflict.

NATO’s foundation is Article 5, which mandates that an attack on any member be perceived as an attack on all NATO members.

Israel is actually at war with Hamas in Gaza.

The fact that Hamas and Hezbollah are not states is irrelevant.

Article 5 has only been activated once since the 9/11 attacks.

4. Israel is a partially recognized state.

Currently, 28 UN members do not recognize the state of Israel.

Some of these members are important NATO partners.

The US is the largest military power in NATO.

The main partner of the USA in the Middle East is Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, as well as Brunei and Malaysia.

None of these countries recognize Israel.

Admitting Israel to NATO would disrupt US relations with those countries.

5. Israel does not benefit from joining NATO.

Israel does not really need NATO membership, because it actually benefits from NATO’s cooperation – mainly with the USA and Great Britain.

Israel is much better armed than many NATO members, has many of the most advanced weapons from the US.

Intelligence is in close cooperation.

Israel has nuclear weapons.

A few days ago, Israel was attacked by Hamas.

Terrorists attacked with jeeps and bulldozers across the border.

The US has sent an aircraft carrier and a battle group to the eastern Mediterranean.

Israel maintains the status of „NATO’s Closest Partner“.

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