Germany Signs Submarines Deal With Israel

Germany on Monday signed a deal to sell three submarines to the Israeli navy in an agreement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu "welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Germany and the state of Israel to acquire the submarines," his office said in a statement.

"This memorandum of understanding has strategic importance for Israel's security and its signing reflects the commitment of Germany and Chancellor Angela Merkel to Israel's security and the deep cooperation between the countries," the statement says.

Negotiations on the sale had been frozen for three months due to concern in Berlin over a related corruption investigation in Israel.

Housing Minister Yoav Gallant, a former senior officer in the Israeli navy, wrote in a tweet on Friday that the three new warships would replace three old vessels, keeping its Dolphin fleet at six, AFP reports.

The submarines ordered by Israel are likely to be fitted with nuclear missiles but are primarily intended for spy missions off Iran or to attack that country in case of nuclear war, according to foreign military experts.