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Europe
Germany's quiet arms embargo on Israel: most requests for arms remain unanswered, report
2024-09-16
[Ynet] Germany has refused Israeli requests for arms but agrees to sell weapons systems to Qatar, the Built newspaper reported on Sunday. The paper claims a quiet arms embargo on Israel was in place. Israel asked to purchase thousands of tank shells from the government in Berlin last year but has had no response.

In the report, the Bild said that the German government approved the sale of over 100 million euros worth of weapons to Qatar. "Military procurement abroad is especially important for the Jewish state which is fighting on several fronts against the Hamas and Hezbollah terror groups," Build wrote.

Officials involved in the matter said nearly all of Israel's requests for arms sales since the start of the war, have been delayed and only a fraction have been approved. There has been no decision to refuse arms sales but the requests are being stalled for a long time, giving the sense that there is a de facto embargo in place. The delays stem from internal debate between the German Chancellor's office and the National Security Council, which are in support of the arms sales to Israel and the Foreign Office which opposes them.
If the chancellor is serious about supporting Israel, it is his duty to overrule the foreign office, which is subordinate to him. If he allows the foreign office to carry on refusing, then he tacitly supports their position.
...Germany's arms sales to Israel have dropped dramatically. In 2023, sales amounted to over 300 million euros and in 2024, they dropped on only 14 million. This comes as international pressure on Israel increases over the civilian casualties in Gaza.
When the Socialists capture the government…
Posted by:Grom the Reflective

#5  Rheinmetall and Elbit Systems have conducted a live-fire demonstration of an automated 155-millimeter L52 wheeled self-propelled howitzer.

Posted by: Skidmark   2024-09-16 12:37  

#4  You're welcome. I do keep an eye on these things.
Posted by: European Conservative   2024-09-16 08:38  

#3  That’s comforting to know, European Conservative. Thank you very much.

Posted by: trailing wife   2024-09-16 08:28  

#2  Thanks, EC. Thought it was pretty odd and glad you cleared this up (for me, at least).
Posted by: Mullah Richard OTR   2024-09-16 08:23  

#1  There's no "embargo". The tank shells in question are brand new and are currently produced. Not only the Bundeswehr has placed a big order, also Ukraine (delivery not possible before end of 2024 at the earliest) and the UK want them badly. Other countries (including the U.S.) have shown interest, so has Israel. The stuff just isn't available right now.

Rheinmetall and Israel's Elbit Systems have already presented an automated 155mm L52 caliber wheeled howitzer in live firing at the beginning of March. The demonstration of the new system took place at the Shivta firing range in southern Israel in front of high-ranking guests from the British, German, Dutch and Hungarian armed forces, writes Rheinmetall in a statement. However, it is not clear from this whether the German group's tube weapon was already used in the test.

Rheinmetall and Elbit Systems (Israel) have reportedly signed a cooperation agreement last year to develop, produce and market a fully automated European 155mm wheeled howitzer system.

So there's no "stalling requests" at all. Bild reports nonsense.

Qatar btw. has nothing to do with it. They ordered completely different weapons.
Posted by: European Conservative   2024-09-16 05:31  

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