before one can worry about the long-term, one has to live that long. military force may not be a long-term solution, but at least it guarantees that there will be a "long-term".

Fanatical dictators do not care about surviving a nuclear 2nd strike, being willing to sacrifice their entire REBELLIOUS people , so this philosophy of submarine doesnt apply. Secondly, Israel, unlike America, is a small country, therefore , chalilah, a first strike policy of annihilating the entire population is an achievable goal. Instead, unfortunately, Israel has to lash out like a cornered wounded lion that is at the end of its rope

When Israel WANTS to give up its nukes it will give them up but it will not be forced to give them up by the arabs or anybody else. Unlike Iran Israel's nuclear weapons program is legal because Israel like India & Pakistan chose not to sign the NPT which all countries are entitled to do. The Shah decided to sign it and so Iran is not allowed a nuclear weapons program. Israel is also not threatening anybody with its nukes they are there as a second strike weapon only and the arabs & everybody else know that as long as they don't destroy Israel then Israel won't destroy them.

True a handful of small submarines does not make Israel a major maritime powers and its true that they are not like American nuclear submarines that can stay submerged for months at a time but through rotation Israel can keep at least one sub based in the Gulf at all times. These subs are small compared to the American ones but they are not mini subs and so are capable of blue water operation, they are not limited to coastal operations and they do pack a big punch for what their size with the ability to fire both torpedos & cruise missiles.

It's mindboggling how dumb you all are thinking 6 submarines makes you all safer and now a world power.....So how many ships have been sunk by submarines within the last 10-20 years? too, too damn funny.... Look Ma, I'm wearing a new pair of long pants...and it even has a zipper...It's the zipper that makes me safe... I understand Israel has an order out and taking bids from around the world to design and build a dome to fit over entire Israel...something similar to covered sports stadiums here in the US only larger....It's to cover Israel from wall to wall, so all of Israel and Israeli's will not only be safe, and shtelized, but entombed also...all to be safe from the neighbors..... The only problem with the plan is how to make it so only the JEws will be safe.. Just when you think you're safe, another problem rises and it's back to the drawing board again... TATA . TATA TATA...

The Dolphin program will eventually cost almost as much as a 3-4 nuclear powered submarine program, like the French or English. That could give Israel a real strategic second strike capabilty that could make Israel virtually indestructible.

The most effective long-term weapon is our sense of justice and strong unshakable belief in our cause. The education system should be based on Jewish values and identity. If implemented this year, within 15-20 years from now we will have a generation of Jewish youth who is committed to its country, land and culture. There will be no more need for "religious" legislation as the will of people, based on their Jewish identity, will be reflected in the laws of the country. Sophisticated weaponry and air and sea superiority are enhancers but not the primary weapon.

There is no necessity for a Palestinian state.

the mountaintops of the world"?

Whenever someone writes "everybody", it usually means "nobody" or very few.

Submarines usually don't sink ships when there is no war. And a dome? Only you would dream up such a ridiculous scenario. (Come to think of it, there are other idiots who might think of it also.) tata (LOL)

They are at present effectively undetectable .The well hidden Mullahs will wake up to a parking lot to rule.

Idiotann, these submarines are capable of firing missiles -- including nuclear-tipped warheads -- that can reach any city in Iran. Pull your head out from where you usually keep it long enough to understand that we've moved past the days of the torpedoing of the LUSITANIA and World War II merchant convoys, why don't you? Submarines aren't just for sinking ships anymore, metumtemet.

if you invest so much energy trying to prove how useless subs are. If they are so useless, WHY DO YOU CARE? Why are you investing so much energy into laughable attempts at demoralization and disinformation? On the contrary: if those subs are so costly and so useless, isn't it better for you and your friends that Israel wastes money on them? But your obsession to "proving" they are so "useless" just prove the opposite: that they are frightening you more than we ever hoped for. So keep on wasting your energy here, while Israel gets stronger. And yes, let's not forget that meanwhile, the Muslim world is busy killing each other, doing a much better job than any Western power ever will. Darwin is doing a hell of a job removing the Islamist scum from its gene pool. It's great seeing you monkeys blowing, raping and killing each other with so much efficiency and hatred.

destroy Israel. And I have a feeling that that won't be anytime soon.

than the west. The death of their own isn't a deterrent, same goes for arab countries, and certain other religious muslim countries. Death is not a deterrent like it is for the west, like it was for the cold war. They kill their own civilians with impunity. Take out their nukes now.

thinking in Cold War terms is not helpful, because they do not fit the real situation. the soviets weren't religious crazies, yearning to meet their maker. the main objectives of the Cold War were the economic benefits of strategic domination - israel couldn't force 22 arab countries to join its version of the eastern bloc, supported by dozens of military divisions. even if it did, the entire gdp of the arab world, apart from oil wouldn't pay for maintaining them (as proven by the american deployments in iraq and afganistan). and israel isn't america, which could afford to absorb a first strike, and then retaliate. absorbing a first strike, such 9/11, was difficult for the united states, but would be even harder for israel, with 1/50 the population, and an area the size of the king ranch in texas. and the last fly in the ointment is that subs are not inherently "first-" or "second-strike" weapons. to label them as such only limits your tactical options. subs are weapons, and should be wielded in support of government policies, and not the other way around.

one of the biggest submarine fleets in the world is owned by - disney! and we know what a global superpower they are, in the entertainment industry. israel is, just barely, at the threshold for carrying out a single mission, keeping a sub on standby off the iranian coast. 4 subs is the bare minimum to operate in israel's 2 seas simultaneously, because all subs are in port at least some of the time. to use one for a special mission, such as the persian gulf, without leaving eilat unguarded, would require 5 at minimum. which is not to say that the subs are a bad idea, but being able to carry out one mission doesn't quite qualify as being a "super-power", even in regional terms.

Big is not always better! I would prefer this high-tech germanmade stealth (totaly quite) subs anytime before common noisy american or russian subs!

I usually like to read your articles as they generally are very well written. I think here you made a BIG mistake. I see no need in advertising our underwater activities............

Israel under Joshua fought many more battles than it has in modern times. Until Messiah comes, unfortunately there will remain a need for vigilance and troops armed with top-quality weapons.

Israel couldn't afford them either if the Germans weren't covering most of the cost.

A very good post. I agree...mostly. My comment is regarding your last two paragraphs. A sub is a first or second strike weapon. It is not only that, granted. But it can be said that its capabilities include those scenarios (G-d forbid). And it is my understanding that Israeli subs are wielded in support of government policies.

Negotiations with Iran are stillborn. Iran has been working for decades towards this goal of attaining atomics and are at best months away. The Ayatollahs believe they are fulfilling the wish of Allah; (they are not rational actors) so the will and pressures of man are meaningless to them. The Middle East Caliphate which they desire will never happen as long as Israel exists, therefore, the war to come is inevitable!

True, but they are [covering much, not most, of the cost right now]. The first two were for free. After that they covered half the cost on the third, and one third the cost on the next three.

and you're spending it on garbage that will do you no good and certainly not the US any good... You've wasted our money now for over 60 years and all you've got to show is 'walls, our state of the art military equipments and cement to continue with your thefts of all things Palestinian... When you can afford all those goodies on your own without our foreign aid, grants and faux loans that are always forgiven...then you can call yourselves a super power..but right now I call you parasites... TATA

Egypt as three Romeo Class submarines which Mubarak was looking to replace. Iran has three Kilo Class subs and a fleet of domestically made mini subs. Until Assad started the killing he was negotiating with Russia to buy new submarines to replace his now retired Romeo's. Israel is not the only country in the region that wants submarines and I imagine that we are soon going to start to see more arab countries like Saudi Arabia buying large fleets of submarines to go with their surface fleet which is the most advanced in the Middle East.

Israel's emergence as a maritime power is wonderful. But it doesn't, in any way, negate the necessity of destroying Iran's nukes. We can't allow Iran's genocidal Mad Mullahs have the means to launch nuclear attacks against us. Period.

#65 Edithann. Could you possibly go out and get a life? Obviously something big is missing in your life or else you wouldn't waste your life away posting such hateful nonsense. Can you possibly publish a truthful sentence? The three "Ta Tas" are the best part of your article. What's next? Five "Ta Tas". You village called and they want their idiot back.

The Fakestinians already have their 'state'. It is called Jordan. Nor is there any such thing as an 'Israeli occupation' in public international law. From a purely legal standpoint (the law, and nothing but the law), the only 'occupation' is that being perpetrated by Arabs on Jewish soil. Israel is under illegal Arab occupation in Judea & Samaria, and in Gaza.