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