Israeli President Reuven Rivlin visited the shipyard in Kiel and toured the ‘INS Rahav’ the fifth submarine due to be delivered to the Israeli Navy.
INS Rahav is the fifth submarine expected to arrive in Israel in the coming year. The INS Rahav was launched some two years ago and will arrive in Israel this year. According to an agreement with Germany, Israel will procure a sixth submarine in the future.
"You are our fortified wall on our maritime borders, and nowhere is too far for you when it comes to Israel’s safety," the president told the submarine commandos.
"It is well know that I am a Jerusalemite, and not connected to the sea in any specific way, but as an officer in the IDF, I always viewed with admiration those who served in the Navy, and knew the difficulties and dangers which are inherent in defending Israel from the sea," said Rivlin.
The President was the first to sign the visitors log, and affixed a plaque to the wall of the briefing room of the vessel inscribed, “The greatest strength of a submarine is in the beating heart, in the crew that operates it, working together as one every moment of every day, alert, vigilant, and determined. Even from afar, under cover, or in the depths, our hearts are with you. May it be God’s will that you will go and return in peace, and that you will be successful in your mission of the continued defense of the State of Israel and her residents.”
The President met with the senior management of the shipyard, who showed him round the range of projects underway in partnership with the Israeli navy, including the progress in the project through which four vessels would be delivered to Israel, providing an important strategic asset for Israel’s maritime defense.
At the conclusion of his visit, the President was joined on the deck of the INS Rahav for the ‘Hatikvah’, Israel’s national anthem, by a guard of honor.
The tour of the submarine was held on the last day of Rivlin's visit to Germany to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
However, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has rejected a German proposal for Israel to join nuclear talks with Iran, saying that he wants to keep all options open to Israel.
