German submarines for Egypt - outrage in Israel Reports on the sale of two German submarines to Israel in Egypt... http://fb.me/IX5eUJrT
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German submarines for Egypt?
Reports on the sale of two German submarines to Israel in Egypt have provided for irritation. The Israeli newspaper "Yediot Aharonot", citing government sources of a "dramatic deterioration in relations between Israel and Germany." The new commander in chief of the Egyptian Navy, Osama al-Gindi, had the government daily "Al-Ahram" said: "We have signed an agreement with Germany to procure two submarines from the latest model 209."
The federal government wanted to, citing the confidentiality of the authorization of military exports not comment. "The federal government will decide on all arms exports based on the existing basis," said a government spokesman. A submarine sale to Egypt would have to agree the secret Federal Security Council, meeting. Its decisions are published only after a considerable time lag in the Arms Export Report.
Class 209 submarines to be built by the HDW shipyard in Kiel and Emden Nordseewerken exclusively for export. The boats are indeed produced for more than 40 years, but were repeatedly brought to the state of the art. About 60 submarines 209er class have already been exported to twelve countries.
The Egyptian navy commander had also announced the acquisition of four produced in the U.S. missile speedboats to mid-2013. He stressed the newspaper reported that the Egyptian fleet was already in a position to answer any attack in the Mediterranean or the Red Sea. "Nevertheless, we are always striving to keep pace with the latest innovations."
Germany has also Israel already delivered several submarines of the more modern "Dolphin" class. By 2017, there will be a total of six. Again, this export is highly controversial because the boats can be equipped with nuclear weapons, according to experts. Israel has nuclear weapons neither admitted nor denied. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the German submarines but as "very important" for the safety of his country.
Relations between Israel and Egypt have deteriorated significantly since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak in February 2011. Israel fears the report of "Yediot Aharonot" now, according to clash with its naval forces behind.
Germany is the world's third largest exporter of arms. With the possible submarine deal with Egypt, the list of controversial businesses grow: Saudi Arabia will reportedly have at least 270 Leopard 2 battle tank, Indonesia has applied for 100 of these tanks already, Qatar also has interest in Leopard. The federal government is keeping quiet on all these transactions.Demands of the opposition for more transparency on export transactions, it has been blocked.
