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Israel Okayed German tank sales to KSA
Sat Oct 22, 2011
Germany approved selling tanks to Saudi Arabia after Israel reportedly permitted Berlin to supply heavy arms to an Arab government for the first time.
In early 2011, the German government asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's opinion on the matter, German magazine Der Spiegel said in an article.
"Israel had no objections at that point. Contacts between Jerusalem (al-Quds) and Riyadh had improved in the preceding years, with Saudi Arabia becoming one of Israel's most important allies in combating Iran's nuclear program. The United States government also signaled its approval," the article said.
According to the German defense policy, no government is allowed to sell military equipment to an Arab state due to Israel's security interests.
In early July, Der Spiegel revealed that German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her cabinet approved the delivery of more than 200 of Leopard 2A7+ model tanks to Saudi Arabia.
German opposition parties and even members of Merkel's ruling center-right coalition criticized the deal, particularly in light of the recent developments in the Middle East and North AFrica
Social Democrat parliamentary deputy leader Gernot Erler said that selling arms to Saudi Arabia while the country has sent military forces and armored vehicles to Bahrain to help crack down on protesters is "a slap in the face for freedom movements in the whole region."
In March, Saudi Arabia deployed troops and police forces in Bahrain to help crush nationwide protests in the Persian Gulf sheikdom.
The article adds that the decision "broke a German taboo, and broke with the decisions of previous governments in Berlin not to supply heavy military equipment to Saudi Arabia as a matter of principle. It also marked a paradigm shift in German foreign policy."
The deal not only shows that German foreign policy interests are above human rights in Saudi Arabia, where men can drive tanks and women are not even allowed to drive cars, but also that when Germany's geopolitical and economic interests are involved it is acceptable to deliver weapons to any Arab country .
AGB/HGH
PressTV - Israel Okayed German tank sales to KSA
PressTV - Israel Okayed German tank sales to KSA
Sat Oct 22, 2011
Germany approved selling tanks to Saudi Arabia after Israel reportedly permitted Berlin to supply heavy arms to an Arab government for the first time.
In early 2011, the German government asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's opinion on the matter, German magazine Der Spiegel said in an article.
"Israel had no objections at that point. Contacts between Jerusalem (al-Quds) and Riyadh had improved in the preceding years, with Saudi Arabia becoming one of Israel's most important allies in combating Iran's nuclear program. The United States government also signaled its approval," the article said.
According to the German defense policy, no government is allowed to sell military equipment to an Arab state due to Israel's security interests.
In early July, Der Spiegel revealed that German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her cabinet approved the delivery of more than 200 of Leopard 2A7+ model tanks to Saudi Arabia.
German opposition parties and even members of Merkel's ruling center-right coalition criticized the deal, particularly in light of the recent developments in the Middle East and North AFrica
Social Democrat parliamentary deputy leader Gernot Erler said that selling arms to Saudi Arabia while the country has sent military forces and armored vehicles to Bahrain to help crack down on protesters is "a slap in the face for freedom movements in the whole region."
In March, Saudi Arabia deployed troops and police forces in Bahrain to help crush nationwide protests in the Persian Gulf sheikdom.
The article adds that the decision "broke a German taboo, and broke with the decisions of previous governments in Berlin not to supply heavy military equipment to Saudi Arabia as a matter of principle. It also marked a paradigm shift in German foreign policy."
The deal not only shows that German foreign policy interests are above human rights in Saudi Arabia, where men can drive tanks and women are not even allowed to drive cars, but also that when Germany's geopolitical and economic interests are involved it is acceptable to deliver weapons to any Arab country .
AGB/HGH
PressTV - Israel Okayed German tank sales to KSA
PressTV - Israel Okayed German tank sales to KSA
