Ralf Stegner, deputy leader of Germany's governing Social Democratic Party, has told the newspaper 'Welt am Sonntag' that Germany should reconsider its arms exports to Israel and should not deliver weapons to areas of tension and dictatorships.
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Stegner expressly named Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Israel as countries that should not benefit from weaponry made in Germany. Although Germany had a big responsibility for the safety of Israel, "it is not my impression that weapons in the Middle East are helping to solve the problem," Stegner told the newspaper.
His remarks were published as a submarine built for Israel in Germany left the shipyard and headed for the Israeli Navy’s Haifa base; it is expected to arrive there later this month. The submarine is the fourth Israel has purchased from Germany. A fifth German-made submarine is set to arrive in Haifa by the end of the year, with a sixth set to be delivered in a few years' time.
A politician from the Bavarian CSU party, which together with Angela Merkel's CDU and the SPD forms the German government, strongly criticized Stegner's remarks. CSU Defense Spokesman Florian Hahn told 'Welt am Sonntag': "Israel is a beacon of democracry in the Middle East and a friendly state. Because of our history Israel enjoys our special support." Hahn said this was the reason why requests from Israel for weaponry would be answered differently than those from other states in the Middle East.
