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.
