ISRAEL SKEPTICAL OVER NATO-MIDEAST COOPERATION

TEL AVIV [MENL] -- Israel appears skeptical over U.S. plans to recruitMediterranean states for military andsecurity cooperation. Israeli officials said they don't believe NATO members from the EuropeanUnion would significantly expand defense relations with the seven states ofthe Mediterranean Dialogue. They said Israel would not be included becauseof objections by EU states to the Israeli-Palestinian war.