SWC: Is Germany backing away from its historic commitment to Israel's security?

October 28, 2011

For Immediate Release

SWC:  Is Germany backing away from its historic commitment to Israel's security?

Wiesenthal Center to Chancellor Merkel : " A Headline We Never Thought to See : German Arms Embargo on Israel"

Germany's Der Spiegel newspaper reported in July that the German Defence
Ministry had contracted to supply Israel with two more Dolphin-class
military submarines. Equipped with both German and Israeli technology,
based on the IDF' Navy' s unique experience, the transaction was to
receive a Berlin subsidy of $ 155 million.

The deal has, reportedly, been scuttled to pressure Jerusalem into
further concessions to the Palestinians and to scold P.M. Netanyahu for
construction in Gilo - a district of municipal Jerusalem.

The Simon Wiesenthal Centre's Director for International Relations, Dr.
Shimon Samuels, suggested that "a boycott of Germany for building in
Prenzlauer Berg - a district of former Communist East Berlin - would be
equally absurd."

Samuels noted that the timing of the leak coincided with yesterday's
scheduled meeting in Berlin of the government's coalition partner Free
Democrats (FDP) spokesman, Rainer Stinner, with Iranian Deputy Minister
for Economic Affairs, Mohammed Roza Farzin."

"Could the submarine incident scapegoating Israel be a cover for German
violation of UN and EU sanctions against Iran ?

Could the potential bonanza of Iranian trade outweigh the loss of German
jobs incurred by the cancellation of the submarine deal with Israel?",
surmised Samuels.

"The Simon Wiesenthal Centre vigorously urges Chancellor Merkel to
unambiguously dispel a headline this generation never thought to see
:'German Arms Embargo on Israel'",concluded Samuels.

For further information contact Dr. Shimon Samuels on 0033(0)609770158