NATO chief says alliance won’t protect Israel if Iran attacks

BERLIN — NATO’s secretary-general says the alliance wouldn’t come to Israel’s defense in case of attack by arch enemy Iran.

Jens Stoltenberg told the magazine Der Spiegel in comments published Saturday that Israel is a partner, but not a member and that NATO’s “security guarantee” doesn’t apply to Israel.

Stoltenberg says NATO isn’t involved in Mideast peace efforts or in conflicts in the region.