Der Spiegel: Israel wants to control German military exports

Israel is seeking to obtain a permanent right to participate in

decisions on German military export transactions involving the supply

of arms to Arab countries, Germany's Spiegel reports, citing the Israeli

issue Haaretz. Director for Political and Military Affairs Amos

Gilad negotiated this question with officials in Berlin. Israel

insists that Germany, when planning to deal with the Arab countries,

should ask Israel's premission. Thus, Tel Aviv is trying to maintain a

military edge over the Arab countries.

Israel was concerned about the information on the export of German

"Leopard" tanks to Saudi Arabia and military frigates to Algeria.

Finally, the impending sale of German submarines to Egypt caused

serious passions and seriously angered the country's leadership. However,

according to the Bild newspaper, the government of Germany has assured

Tel Aviv that it will suspend the deal with Egypt, if its leadership

shows hostility to Israel. However, officially Germany has not made

any statements regarding the negotiations with Israel, nor confirmed

rumors that the military is preparing to export submarines to Egypt.

Spiegel emphasizes that this information has been disseminated by the

Israeli media on the eve of the visit of Foreign Minister Guido

Westerwelle to this country.