Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that submarines supplied by
Germany to Israel were an important addition to Israel's national
security. On Monday, a German newspaper reported that submarines
produced by Germany and supplied to Israel as part of an extensive
arms deal were capable of launching nuclear-tipped cruise missiles --
despite insistence by German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the
submarines provided to Israel were not nuclear-capable. While
Netanyahu was not asked about the submarines' nuclear capabilities, he
did say that it was important that the Jewish State knew how to defend
itself against all threats. Israel is considering the purchase of
three more German submarines, in addition to the six it has already
bought -- three of which are already in Israel. Germany will absorb a
third of the cost of the deals, and allow Israel to delay payment of
its part, until 2015.