A ceremony was held for the acquisition of the Israel’s latest submarine, the INS Rahav on Tuesday, January 12 in Haifa. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended the event, which featured a submarine ordered from Germany a decade ago. Although the submarine’s cost was not explicitly stated, it is estimated to have cost between half a billion to 2 billion dollars.
The INS Rahav, which weighs 2,100 tons and is 68 meters long, is equipped with advanced surveillance systems capable of tracking other ships as well as technology enabling it to avoid detection by enemy craft.
At the ceremony, Netanyahu began his speech by expressing gratitude to the German government, Chancellor Merkel and President Gauck for the Germany’s significant contribution to the fortification of Israel’s naval strength. He also extolled the “productive relationship” between Germany and Israel in the field of security.
Netanyahu pointed out that the new submarine should serve as a warning to Israel’s enemies who seek its destruction. “This submarine has come thousands of miles from the port of Kiel in north Germany to the port of Haifa. Its capabilities will assist us with our defensive and offensive capacities in our naval fleet. It will act as a warning against our enemies who seek our destruction,” he said
Adding that Israel’s navy is capable of striking anyone who seeks to strike the Jewish state with crushing strength and is capable of reaching even the most concealed targets, Netanyahu also addressed Israeli citizens. He reiterated his commitment to their safety and security of Israelis both within and outside Israel’s borders.
(Photo: Kobi Gideon/GPO)
“The naval arm of Israel continues to grow all the time and to add crushing power, which can extend to far away and hidden areas. Citizens of Israel need to know that Israel is an extremely strong country. We are doing, and will do everything, to protect you anywhere and in any field.”
President Reuven Rivlin also spoke at the ceremony and echoed the sentiments of gratitude to the German chancellor and the German president. The Israeli president stressed the historical and current importance of dominating the seas.
“Conquest of the seas has always been and always will be an essential mission for the Zionist movement. It became an economic, strategic and political necessity for the tiny state of Israel,” Rivlin said.
He described the INS Rahav as “the most formidable and sophisticated war machine available today in Israeli hands.”
(Photo: Kobi Gideon/GPO)
The INS Rahav is the fifth submarine to join the Israeli naval arsenal. It will be followed by a sixth submarine in 2019, the INS Dakar named after the British-manufactured submarine which sunk in 1968 en route to Israel for reasons unknown to this day.
The British submarine was eventually found in 1999 between Cyprus and Crete and some of the wreckage discovered is on display at the Naval Museum in Haifa.
PM Netanyahu at Welcoming Ceremony for the Submarine INS RahavPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the following remarks today at the Israel Navy base in Haifa, at the welcoming ceremony for the submarine INS Rahav: “I would like to thank the German government, Chancellor Merkel and President Gauck, for your great contribution to building up our naval strength by supplying this submarine and other important means that we are discussing. I would also like to express my deepest appreciation for the mutually beneficial security relationship between Israel and Germany, about which I have spoken at length with Chancellor Merkel, Foreign Minister Steinmeier and other German government officials. This steel submarine sailed thousands of kilometers from the Kiel shipyards in northern Germany to Haifa port. It will be fitted with advanced, blue-and-white measures which will aid us in defense and offense, as a closed naval fist. Above all, our submarine fleet will act as a deterrent to our enemies who want to destroy us. They will not achieve their aim. They need to know that Israel is capable of striking in very great strength at all those who would harm it. And the citizens of Israel need to know that Israel is a very strong country. We are doing – and we will do – our utmost to defend you, anywhere: In the cybernetic world, where we are building a cyber network, in the air and above the air – in space, on the ground and underground – against the tunnel threat, on the sea and under the sea – with submarines. Israel’s naval arm will continue to extend its reach, and add striking power, to distant and global quarters. Navy personnel, including the submarine crews, carry out many daring operations far from home port and – to a similar degree – far from view. Our naval arm, including the submarines, is an essential defensive force in the stormy reality of the Middle East. Rogue waves continue to inundate the region and dangerous whirlpools encompass it on every side. We identify the dangers in time and we are well prepared to repel them. The task of responsible leadership is not to hide its head in the sand. We must have a clear view of what is happening around us. Our goals are clear: Maintain our security, ensure our sovereignty and advance the development and prosperity of our country.”Video: GPO
Posted by The Prime Minister of Israel on Tuesday, January 12, 2016
