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German submarines for Israel outfitted with nuclear-tipped cruise missiles

In December, Allison covered the decision by Germany to allow the sale of nuclear-capable dolphin submarines to Israel. The German newspaper Der Spiegel is now reporting that Israel is arming them with nuclear-tipped cruise missiles.

From Spiegel Online:

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Germany is helping Israel to develop its military nuclear capabilities, SPIEGEL has learned. According to extensive research carried out by the magazine, Israel is equipping submarines that were built in the northern German city of Kiel and largely paid for by the German government with nuclear-tipped cruise missiles. The missiles can be launched using a previously secret hydraulic ejection system. Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak told SPIEGEL that Germans should be “proud” that they have secured the existence of the state of Israel “for many years.” . . .

The submarines are built by the German shipyard HDW in Kiel. Three submarines have already been delivered to Israel, and three more will be delivered by 2017. In addition, Israel is considering ordering its seventh, eighth and ninth submarines from Germany.

The German government recently signed the contract for the delivery of the sixth vessel. According to information obtained by SPIEGEL, Chancellor Angela Merkel made substantial concessions to the Israelis. Not only is Berlin financing one-third of the cost of the submarine, around €135 million ($168 million), but it is also allowing Israel to defer its payment until 2015.

Merkel had tied the delivery of the sixth submarine to a number of conditions, including a demand that Israel stop its expansionist settlement policy and allow the completion of a sewage treatment plant in the Gaza Strip, which is partially financed with German money. So far, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has met none of the terms.

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I am glad the story got picked up. There’s also a six-page, followup article (in English) on the Spiegel website:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/israel-deploys-nuclear-weapons-on-german-built-submarines-a-836784.html

There’s yet another article (in German), which says that the current governing coalition (Christian Dems & Liberal Dems) tries to put the blame for the submarine deals on the previous governing coalition (Social Dems & Greens). They basically say, “We just continue doing what you did before.” And I have to admit that they are right. Former chancellor Schröder started with these submarine deals. Several politicians now demand a revision of the requirements for arms exports.
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/u-boot-deal-mit-israel-opposition-verlangt-aufklaerung-a-836855.html

der spiegel has put out a new updated version, 4 hrs ago. 6 page article with almost the same title.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/israel-deploys-nuclear-weapons-on-german-built-submarines-a-836784.html

BDS on the German government?

RE: “Germany is helping Israel to develop its military nuclear capabilities…” – Speigel

MY COMMENT: Note that Germany is a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and it has knowingly assisted the nuclear weapons program (as to delivery/launching of nuclear-armed missiles) of a country that has not signed the NPT! Obviously the NPT is worthless.

RE: “Germany is helping Israel to develop its military nuclear capabilities…” – Speigel

MY COMMENT: Yet another example of “Gunter the Terrible”!

SEE: Gunter the Terrible, By Uri Avnery, The Palestine Chronicle, 4/13/12

Stop me if I have told you this joke before:
Somewhere in the US, a demonstration takes place. The police arrive and beat the protesters mercilessly.
“Don’t hit me,” someone shouts, “I am an anti-communist!”
“I couldn’t give a damn what kind of a communist you are!” a policeman answers as he raises his baton.
The first time I told this joke was when a German group visited the Knesset and met with German-born members, including me.
They went out of their way to praise Israel, lauding everything we had been doing, condemning every bit of criticism, however harmless it might be. It became downright embarrassing
, since some of us in the Knesset were very critical of our government’s policy in the occupied territories.
For me, this extreme kind of pro-Semitism is just disguised anti-Semitism. Both have a basic belief in common: that Jews – and therefore Israel – are something apart, not to be measured by the standards applied to everybody else. . .

ENTIRE COMMENTARY – http://www.palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=19233

* I would add that Christian Zionism is also an “extreme kind of pro-Semitism” that is actually “disguised anti-Semitism”.