Posted on 12/07/2013 12:51:09 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
German daily reports that torpedo-laden destroyers are intended to provide protection for Israel's natural gas installations.
Germany has agreed to sell Israel two destroyers in exchange for one billion euros, AFP reported on Saturday, citing a report in German daily Bild.
According to the report, the torpedo-laden destroyers are intended to provide protection for Israel's natural gas installations.
Bild reported that the head of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's National Security Council, Yossi Cohen, visited Berlin last week.
A German government spokeswoman confirmed Cohen's visit, but declined to comment on the nature of his business in Berlin, according to AFP.
Israeli Navy captain Ilan Lavi said in April that the new offshore gas resource offers Israel's enemies an obvious target that would require extra spending to protect. "We have to build an entire new defensive envelope," said Lavi, head of the navy's planning department. A senior naval commander, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that simply to patrol the area Israel needed four new ships and that it had already been in touch with eight or nine foreign firms.
The discovery of large natural gas deposits in its offshore economic zone in 2009 came as a welcome surprise to Israel, transforming the energy security outlook of a country that used to rely heavily on imports. A burst of exploration followed, and by the end of 2013 18 new wells are expected to be drilled at a cost of $1.8 billion.
Israel estimates there are about 950 billion cubic meters of gas beneath its waters, enough to leave plenty fo
(Excerpt) Read more at jpost.com ...
German F-124 class destroyer (frigate in German parlance)
The Germans build excellent military hardware and Israel will need them at some point.
Irony
They should have given them those ships gratis. I can think of a few appropriate names for them as well.
I can second that, but it’s not personal for me.
Outstanding.
They dealing with the Germans with the history
I'm not sure if 'upside down,' or 'inside out' is the better description of what's going on.
Quite strange isn’t it?
It was either the French or English that did the same thing but reneged on the deal after Israel paid for them. I’m thinking French. I have a hard time dealing with both countries.
Never gave a reason why did they? Wonder who pressured them?
It is for sure they shouldn’t buy them here in the US. What a shame. Frankly, I’d get someone like Hyundai to build them... they usually break the rules and manage to combine good, fast and cheap (good value).
After the USA, Germany is Israel’s largest trading partner.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel maintains especially close ties to Israel.
Blohm&Voss make some good Schiffs.
With the $2+ billion Foreign Military Assistance we give Israel every year, they can afford it.
The Germans were pretty rough on the Jews in the 20’s-40’s. They will carry that guitl as a society for many years to come....just as we do for slavery.
Even though the modern governments of both countries had nothing to do with those atrocities. It’s a stain that will take hundreds of years to go away....from a political standpoint.
I’m sure Jewish politicians similar to Al Sharpton exist in Germany stirrig up the emotions and dividing the people, but accomplishing little else.
Fair trade then for all the assistance the US give Israel’s enemies.
As did the English in 1948. They turned over all their weapons to the Arabs when they left.
That assistance is predicated on buying American Military hardware...
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