Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 22 / Trend U.Sadikhova /
The deal between Israel and Germany for the purchase of submarines is to prevent an eventual nuclear attack by Iran and it is not connected to the regional Israeli-Palestinian conflict, experts say.
The joint governmental meeting of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin called for more severe sanctions against Iran.
The Berlin meeting became the second German-Israeli cabinet meeting. The first was held in Jerusalem in 2008.
The Israeli-German meeting discussed security issues, as well as issues concerning Iran's nuclear program, which the West and Israel consider may be aimed at developing an atomic bomb.
The Israeli prime minister called for immediate sanctions against Tehran.
"If not now, when?" Netanyahu said. "Regime, which presses on its own people can not have nuclear weapons."
In addition to discussing the threat of Iran's nuclear program, Netanyahu would sign a deal to purchase more six Dolphin-class submarines. The Israeli army already has three such submarines in its arsenal, the Israeli Maariv newspaper told. Two other boats will be delivered to Israel this year.
The paper wrote that the deal was supposed to be concluded in November, but then Netanyahu postponed his Germany visit due to health reasons.
The Israeli media reported that the most modern diesel submarines in the world were specially converted at the IDF's request. They can carry missiles with nuclear warheads, which make them a weapon of retaliation.
Total cost of the first three submarines purchased from Germany exceeds $1 billon.
Observers believe that this transaction is intended to enhance the security and defense of Israel against the growing threat of a missile attack by Iran, and the submarine will not be applied in case of armed conflict with the Arab countries.
"This transaction is taken because of the escalating conflict of Israel and western countries with Iran's nuclear program," said Rainer Sollich, Deutsche Welle's radio Arab desk head.
"Israel's aim in signing a deal with Germany is to be prepared for conflict with Iran and strengthen its security," he told Trend over the phone.
The expert believes the question of the Israel-Germany deal is important, as Germany - third largest trading partner of Israel after the U.S. and China - is a kind of responsibility for Israel's security, which is threatened by Iran and some groups in the Arab countries.
Shlomo Brom, Israeli expert in national security, agrees with that the transaction is not related to the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He assesses the military deal with Germany as a continuation of Israel's purchase of equipment to supplement the military arsenal.
"The transaction has no special significance, as this is the sixth submarine on the background of five bought earlier," Brom told Trend over the phone.
According to a former brigadier general, "if we consider the use of military force in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly in the Gaza Strip, then Israel would use the submarine."
The Israeli-German meeting also discussed the Middle East settlement.
Germany is also a broker in the transaction for the exchange of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held prisoner by Hamas since 2006, and the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
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