Britannia Radio

[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: Now DM Barak praises the sub. When he was Deputy COS he didn't appreciate the need for the subs:

"But the story behind the submarine project is to a large extent cause for
concern. On the eve of the Gulf War, a decision to scuttle the project was
taken at the IDF General Staff: that is, to leave the navy without any
submarines at all. Only the stricken conscience of Helmut Kohl, the German
chancellor, after the extent of German aid to the Iraqis became known, led
to the decision to fund the submarines. Thus, it was German money that saved
the submarine project.

The General Staff's decision is cause for concern because all those who took
part in the discussion knew very well, based on intelligence estimates, that
within a small number of years Israel would be threatened by nuclear
weapons. It is difficult to fathom how those who are supposed to be familiar
with and to understand strategic thinking in the modern era decided to give
up the strategic potential inherent in submarines. There is no alternative
but to question the judgment of the top brass, and this question deserves an
answer. It is an interesting fact that the person who led the opposition to
building the submarines in that discussion, and the person whose position
prevailed in the end, was none other than the person who served at the time
as deputy chief of staff, Ehud Barak

A strategic navy in a nuclear Middle East
By Reuven Pedatzur - Ha'aretz 5 November 2000]


Israel and Germany Sign Deal for Sixth Submarine

(Communicated by Josh Hantman, International Media Advisor, MOD (
dover@mod.gov.il )

Israel and Germany today (Wednesday), 21.3.12, signed a contract for the
purchase of a sixth submarine for Israel's navy. The ceremony was held at
the residence of Israel's Ambassador to Germany; participants included
Defense Minister Ehud Barak; Defense Ministry Director-General Maj.-Gen.
(res.) Udi Shani, and German State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of
Defense Rudiger Wolf.

Defense Minister Barak noted after the ceremony: "This sixth submarine will
substantially increase the capabilities and strength of the IDF and the
State of Israel in the face of ever-increasing challenges. The agreement
reflects the depth of Israel and Germany's relationship, as well as the
German government's clear commitment to the State of Israel's security. In
recent years, Israel's navy has been undergoing strategic changes that place
it as the long arm of the IDF, positioned at the forefront of the campaign
to secure the State of Israel."

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IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il