Naval ships from Israel, Turkey and the United States are holding joint manoeuvres in the eastern Mediterranean, despite strident criticism from the Arab world and other countries. The main part of the joint exercise, a search and rescue operation involving ships and helicopters from all three countries, is taking place on Wednesday. As Chris Morris reports from Ankara, Turkey's role has been especially controversial with its neighbours:

The three countries say these are not real military exercises and there'll be no firing of weapons. The main purpose is to co-odinate search and rescue operations to prepare for possible accidents at sea.

But everyone is well aware of the extreme sensitivity of these manoeuvres which were twice postponed last year. They've provoked neighbouring countries, especially Syria and Iran, to speak of a threat to regional peace.

Israel's opponents are used to its close military co-operation with the United States but the involvement of Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country, has been greeted with dismay. Jordan is the one Arab country to break ranks.

It has sent a high-level observer to watch the manoeuvres but the rest of the Arab world is furious and increasingly nervous about the long-term potential of the growing military alliance between Israel and Turkey. It's a relationship which could indeed alter the balance of power in the region and give Israel a significant local ally during troubled times.

The Israeli Defence Minister, Yitzak Mordechai, visited Turkey last month, just as the Islamic summit was taking place across the border in Iran. That was the clearest signal yet that the two countries are determined to press ahead with wide-ranging military ties.