Israel denies talks on German submarine purchase
23 July 2010 AFP

www.expatica.com/de/news/german-news/israel-denies-talks-on-german-submarine-purchase_85383.html

Israel's defence ministry said on Friday it was not looking to buy a sixth
submarine from Germany at this time, after a German media report that Berlin
had rejected an Israeli request for a subsidy.

"Following press reports, we wish to clarify that there are no negotiations
with Germany for the purchase by Israel of an additional submarine," the
ministry said in a statement.

"The question of a discount (by Germany) for such an acquisition is
therefore not relevant," the statement added, referring to an article Friday
in Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

The report said that Chancellor Angela Merkel had made known that Berlin
would not reduce the price of a sixth German-made Dolphin-class submarine
for Israel because of budget constraints.

German government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm said there were "no concrete
negotiations between Israel and Germany about a sixth submarine" and he
could not comment on possible "informal talks" on the subject.

He confirmed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Merkel had spoken
by telephone this week in a conversation focused on efforts toward Middle
East peace but said he could not comment on whether the submarine was
mentioned.

Israel's navy has three Dolphin-class submarines, two of which were bought
after the 1991 Gulf War.

Israel has two other Dolphin submarines on order, being built at the Kiel
shipyard in northern Germany and due for delivery in 2012.

Media reports have said the submarines can carry nuclear warheads and have
an operating range of 4,500 kilometres (2,800 miles).