(VIDEOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

Germany on Wednesday has given the required approval for the Heron-TP drones deal worth a reported €1 billion for Israel. The deal once again signals the high-level of cooperation between the countries, as Germany has built and continues building a number of advanced submarines for the Israel Navy.

Needless to say, the official approval was welcomed by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who responded saying, “This is a great contribution to the Israeli security industry and to the Israeli economy. The giant deal is an expression of the strategic partnership between Germany and Israel and attests to the potential of Israeli industry to contribute to countries such as Germany.

In addition, during his address Thursday to the International Forum for Public Security Ministers being hosted in Jerusalem by the Public Security Ministry, PM Netanyahu added, “I am very pleased by the decision of the German parliament yesterday to approve the giant deal to lease Israeli UAVs. This is an incredible deal that has implications, first of all, for our security industries and for the Israeli economy, but also for the continued strengthening of security relations between Israel and Germany. Germany helps Israel with security, and Israel also helps Germany. This is a very important development and I would like to personally thank Chancellor Merkel. I spoke with her about this ten days ago. She told me that she would pass it through the parliament and she did so.”

The deal was among the items discussed in the recent meeting in German between PM Netanyahu and Chancellor Angela Merkel.

PM Netanyahu meets with US Secretary of Homeland Sectary Kirstjen, who attended the conference:

PM Netanyahu’s remarks to the conference

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)