Berlin agreed to sell 2 naval destroyers to Israel

 

German newspaper Bild reports Merkel’s gov’t grants Israeli request, will sell 2 advanced destroyers for protecting Israeli gas fields at sea, for sum of  €1 billion.

By AFP

Earlier this year, a significant deal between Germany and the Israeli security establishment was completed, as the Germans handed a fifth Dolphin-class submarine to Israel. The handover was marked in an official ceremony in Germany’s city of Kiel.Germany will sell two destroyers to Israel for one billion euros ($1.3 billion), the Bild daily reported Saturday.

German Navy destroyer - File Photo: Reuters

German Navy destroyer – File Photo: Reuters

The torpedo-carrying war vessels will be used to protect Israeli pipelines, the paper said, without citing a source.

A German government spokeswoman reached by AFP confirmed Cohen’s visit but declined to elaborate.

The report said Israel’s national security adviser, Yossi Cohen, was in Berlin last week.

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The vessel is considered one of the most advanced submarines in the world and is the most expensive war vessel the Defense Ministry has procured for the IDF. The diesel-powered submarines are widely regarded as an Israeli vanguard against foes like Iran. In total, Israel has purchased six Dolphin submarines from Germany.

 

Elior Levy contributed to this report

View original Ynet publication at: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4462341,00.html