Israeli Navy: We need three new German-made subs ASAP
Officer contradicts earlier statements to say three Dolphin-class nuclear-powered submarines needed 'as fast as possible'
Israel’s navy now says it needs three nuclear submarines “as fast as possible” from a German shipyard being investigated for its links to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In an apparent policy U-turn, a senior officer this week said the German-made Dolphin AIP-class subs were now urgently needed, contradicting statements from a Navy commander in November, which focused on next-generation subs.
Netanyahu initially negotiated a $1.3 billion deal with Germany to buy the three vessels, against the wishes of then-Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, who was replaced shortly after.
Since then, Israeli police have been investigating whether Netanyahu improperly favoured ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) in unusually-accelerated negotiations, the terms of which are unclear.
Police are investigating possible conflicts of interest between Netanyahu’s office and Kiel, the Germany-based shipyard building the Israel-bound subs. Netanyahu’s cousin and personal lawyer David Shimrom also represents Micky Ganor, a recently-retired Israeli officer and authorised agent of TKMS.
Netanyahu’s official government lawyer, Yitzhak Molcho, who negotiates with foreign governments on Israel’s behalf, is now believed to have discussed the matter with Shimrom, with whom he works.
Speaking to Defence News, the officer said: “We pretty much know what we want. It basically will be the AIP Dolphin-class submarines, with some room for growth, with new materials, better sonar … but pretty much the same design.”
From the initial order, it takes up to ten years for a submarine to become operational, and Israel’s existing Dolphin-class subs have a 30-year shelf life, meaning the Navy’s older subs will become obsolete around 2027.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
