- Title: Israel to help bolster German air defence, warns against Iran nuclear deal
- Date: 12th September 2022
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 12, 2022) (REUTERS) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, YAIR LAPID, AND GERMAN CHANCELLOR, OLAF SCHOLZ, WALKING UP TO THE PODIUM TO ADDRESS JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, YAIR LAPID, SAYING: "This partnership has economic and security benefits. It is a practical expression of Germany's commitment to Israel's security as a Jewish and a democratic state. A commitment you reaffirmed when you took office. Israel for its part, will play a role in building Germany's new defence force, mainly in the field of air defence as you just mentioned." LAPID AND SCHOLZ DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, YAIR LAPID, SAYING: "Talk does not stop evil. Liberal democracies must be willing and able to defend themselves. Sometimes freedom must be defended by force. Our partnership also requires us to act together against the growing threat of Iran becoming a nuclear state." NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, YAIR LAPID, SAYING: "It is time to move past the failed negotiations with Iran. They can not and will not achieve the goal we all share -- to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. We discussed the need for a new strategy to stop Iran's nuclear program. A nuclear Iran will destabilise the Middle East and create a nuclear arms race that will endanger the entire world. Returning to the nuclear agreement, under the current conditions, would be a critical mistake. Removing sanctions and pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into Iran will bring waves of terrorism, not only to the Middle East but also across Europe." NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, YAIR LAPID, SAYING: "The Chancellor and I have discussed energy quite a bit and the need to cooperate on energy. Israel, as you said, will probably be able to export gas to Europe, hopefully, next year. We're going to be part of the effort to replace Russian gas in Europe." JOURNALISTS SCHOLZ AND LAPID SHAKING HANDS, WALKING OFF THE PODIUM
- Embargoed: 26th September 2022 13:49
- Keywords: Berlin Iran Israel Lapid Scholz
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Palestinian Occupied Territory
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Middle East,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001469412092022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Israel will assist Germany's efforts to strengthen its armed forces as well as tackle an energy crisis after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said on a visit to the German capital on Monday (September 12).
Germany has ramped up its military spending after Russia sent troops into Ukraine in February, while shipping aid and heavy weapons to Kyiv as part of an international response.
"Israel for its part will play a role in building Germany's new defence force, mainly in the field of air defence," Lapid said in a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.
Lapid described their talks as leading to a "future possible deal" for Germany to purchase Arrow 3 missile defence system from Israel but declined to outline the cost. Scholz said Germany would strengthen its defences by buying more air defence systems in the future and called the Arrow 3 system a "high-performance offer" but also declined to go into specifics.
Arrow 3 interceptors are designed to fly beyond the earth's atmosphere, where their warheads detach to become "kamikaze" satellites, or "kill vehicles" that track and slam into the targets. Such high-altitude shoot-downs are meant to safely destroy incoming nuclear, biological or chemical missiles.
The two leaders also discussed the stuttering efforts to revive a 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, with Scholz urging Tehran to not turn down proposals made by Europe.
Asked about Europe's energy crisis, Lapid said that Israel "will probably be able to export gas to Europe, hopefully next year."
"We're going to be part of the effort to replace Russian gas in Europe," he added.
Lapid was also due to visit the site of the 1942 Wannsee Conference that laid out the "final solution" - the plan by Nazi Germany to exterminate the Jews - later on Monday.
(Production: Lee Marzel, Lianne Back) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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