A mini-fleet of eight NATO vessels has been anchored in the Israeli port of Haifa pending the exercises, dubbed Cooperative Mako, off Romania's Black Sea Coast, according to Israeli and NATO military sources.

Several NATO countries including Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Germany are due to join the exercises mid-june aimed among other things at testing sea rescue operations, said Commander Massimo DiCampi from NATO's maritime command in Nisida, Italy.

Israel has also signaled its wish to participate in NATO's Operation Active Endeavour, an anti-terrorism mission in the Mediterranean along with countries including Algeria and Morocco.

The operation, checking suspicious vessels and boarding them if necessary, was launched in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. Russia is also due to join the operation.

More generally, Israel and NATO cooperate in the context of a "Mediterranean Dialogue" launched by the western military alliance in 1994, and revived in 2004 in a bid to make it more active.

Besides Israel, the dialogue also involves Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan.

NATO-Israeli ties were boosted by a visit by NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to Israel, and an unprecedented trip by a delegation from the Knesset to NATO's Brussels headquarters last year.

Despite the best efforts, however, relations remain limited and clouded by a historical suspicion, experts say.

"Relations between Israel and NATO... have long been characterized by a mixture of disregard and mistrust," writes Professor Martin van Creveld of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

"Clearly, on both sides, a fundamental change of heart has yet to take place," he added in an article in the NATO Review.

NATO officials insist that the alliance does not plan to give Israel preferential treatment compared to the other Mediterranean Dialogue partner countries.

"We make a great effort to ensure that while our relations with each country is individualized and meets their needs there is a balance in what we offer to them," said NATO spokesman James Appathurai.

He noted for example that the invitation to take part in the Black Sea exercises was made to all seven. "That balance is very important... there is no NATO desire to pick and choose," he said.

And there is no question of Israel being offered NATO entry, he said -- quashing suggestions including one by former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar who said NATO should offer its "umbrella" to shield Israel from attack.

Analysts point out that Israel would be reluctant to link itself to NATO for its defense, given that it would probably hamper its ability to launch military operations independently. Also, such Israeli NATO membership would spark outrage in the Arab world, they say.

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