Germany threatens to halt submarine sale to Israel

Der Spiegel reports: Germany is threatening to stop the delivery of a “Dolphin” submarine to Israel in protest over the country’s settlement policies. Government sources confirmed the development when asked by SPIEGEL following speculation last week in the Israeli media that Germany might halt the sale.

The move is in response to the recent decision by the Israeli government to approve the construction of 1,100 homes in Gilo, an Arab part of Jerusalem captured from Jordan in the 1967 Six Day War. The Israeli government considers the area to be a Jewish suburb, but the international community contests that description.

The threat by German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been the subject of considerable concern in Israel.

The nuclear-weapons capable Dolphin submarines are an important part of the Israeli military strategy. The navy already owns three of the submarines and two further vessels are currently being built by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW), the shipbuilding division of German steelmaker Thyssen-Krupp, in Kiel, Germany.

This summer, the German government approved €135 million ($189 million) in funding to assist Israel with the purchase of a sixth Dolphin submarine over the next four years. Now, however, that deal for the sixth submarine is in jeopardy.

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2 thoughts on “Germany threatens to halt submarine sale to Israel”

  1. dickerson3870

    RE: “Germany threatens to halt submarine sale to Israel”

    ALSO SEE: Report: Israel seeking to upgrade its nuclear weapons capabilities ~ By Haaretz, 10/31/11

    (excerpt) Israel is working on improving its nuclear weapons capabilities, according to a report by the independent Trident commission in the United Kingdom that was published in the Guardian newspaper on Monday.
    According to the report in the Guardian, Israel is extending the range of its Jericho 3 land-to-land missiles so they will have the capabilities of transcontinental missiles.
    Transcontinental missiles are generally thought of as missiles with ranges of about 5,000 miles.
    The Guardian also reported that Israel is also striving to improve and expand the capabilities of its cruise missiles, designed to be launched from submarines. Israel currently has three submarines and two more are under construction in Germany. Israel and Germany are holding talks about the construction of a sixth submarine…

    ENTIRE ARTICLE – http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/report-israel-seeking-to-upgrade-its-nuclear-weapons-capabilities-1.392957

  2. Norman

    Intercontinental Nuclear Missiles! So, is this a hint that when/if Israel bombs Iran, that they will also launch toward the U.S.A.? ? ? The present leaders are mad men. If anything, they have tipped their hand here, so if the case that the U.S. is struck with another 9-11, there wont be any doubt as to who did it this time.

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