Photo: Niv Calderon
Photo: Niv Calderon
Peretz to Germany: We won’t ignore Iran
Defense minister meets with German counterpart to settle issue of shooting incident in Lebanon, discuss Iranian threat. Germany’s Jung: We’ll do utmost to block Iranian nuclear armament
Defense Minister Amir Peretz met on Friday with his German counterpart Dr. Franz Josef Jung and told him that Israel cannot ignore Iran’s armament.
“This is a provocation of the entire free world,” Peretz said of the Iranian nuclear development. “The international community must act using all means available against Iran.”
Iranian Armament
News Agencies
State TV reports country successfully fired new types of missiles with range of about 170 kilometers, intended for naval warfare
In Lebanese skies
One of the issues on the agenda of Friday’s meeting was the recent incident involving IDF planes and a German helicopter along the Lebanese shore, in which shots were apparently fired as a result of a misunderstanding and failure to coordinate air activities.
Peretz said that Israel and Germany were determined to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“Both nations are fully coordinated regarding actions along the Lebanon shoreline,” Peretz said.
Peretz, Jung agree to coordinate Friday (Photo: Niv Calderon)
Jung, on his part, committed that Germany “will do everything possible so that its forces, operating in Lebanon waters, will prevent Hizbullah weapons smuggling by sea.”
Jung arrive in Israel following a visit to Lebanon, where he met with commanders of the German navy fleet there. Before leaving for Israel, Jung met with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Defense Minister Elias Murr.
Six members of German parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee accompanied Jung on his Israel visit. The visit was partly aimed at lessening criticism among German’s regarding the deployment of German forces as part of the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon.
