Berlin approves $930 million in arms sales to Israel

The major deals follow a temporary suspension of exports over West Jerusalem’s plans to occupy Gaza The German government approved nearly €800 million ($930 million) in arms exports to Israel between January and June, German weekly Der Spiegel has reported, citing a government response to a parliamentary inquiry. The sum is already four times higher than the total value Berlin greenlighted for West Jerusalem last year.Around one-fifth of the exports was linked to German-Israeli defense-industry cooperation benefiting the German Armed Forces, according to the government. Just over two-thirds of the approved value is tied to the INS ‘Drakon’, a nearly 70-meter-long Dolphin II-class submarine built for Israel by German shipbuilder TKMS. The vessel, which can remain submerged for weeks, left Kiel on Tuesday and is reportedly on its way to Israel.Berlin said the remainder covered equipment not classified as “weapons of war,” including small arms, ammunition, explosives and drones, according to Der Spiegel. The Left Party accused Berlin of “boundless double standards” over the deals. “As [Chancellor] Friedrich Merz was supposedly outraged by [Israeli Security Minister Itamar] Ben-Gvir’s ...