Israel Cozies Up to Germany, South Korea

A recent op-ed calls on Israel to cut more naval procurement deals with South Korea, a “world-class sea power” in a different part of the world, even while acknowledging a smart recent purchase it made for new fighter jets from Italy. Yesterday brought news of a deal for a German-made submarine, which will be the sixth in Israel’s fleet. It will be capable of carrying nuclear warheads and cruise missiles. If only Israel had some sort of enemy for which such a vessel would be useful for threatening … .

Here’s what’s not mentioned in either article: the United States (actually, the U.S. is mentioned once, in reference to a recent naval deal having fallen through). Some, like think-tanker Haim Malka, have called on Israel to voluntarily lessen its military dependency on the United States. By diversifying alliances, Israel could in the long term gain leverage, as countries compete both to do business with it and to have a foothold in a crucial part of the world.

One note: The German deal was held up by the parliament there until Israel allowed the tax transfers to the Palestinian Authority, which it had held up in the wake of UNESCO membership, to go through. That’s not the sort of thing that happens with U.S.-Israel deals. Yet I still think Israel will find that, in the long-term, dealing closely with more allies, where the relationships are a bit more conditional than the U.S.-Israel special relationship, will be a positive for Israel’s long-term security. (And anyway, the Germans happened to be right about UNESCO.)

Israel’s New Frontiers: South Korea and the Sea [Haaretz]
Ehud Barak To Sign Deal for Delivery of Sixth German-Made Submarine [Haaretz]
Earlier: United States and Israel at a ‘Crossroads’?