Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed the possibility of joint weaponry development with Germany during a recent visit to Berlin. According to Saar, the opportunities for mutual production are “unlimited between friends” suggesting that Israel and Germany might eventually move toward common manufacturing in certain areas.
Addressing the topic of defense cooperation, Saar noted that Israel had recently provided the Arrow 3 missile defense system to Germany, emphasizing that Israel made this contribution even while it could have used the system itself. He also commented on the temporary pause in arms shipments to Israel by CDU leader Friedrich Merz last year, clarifying that while the issue of the halt was relevant, the recent discussions had focused on the broader concepts of the present and the future of the alliance. Saar pointed out that since the ceasefire in Gaza last October, Germany has modified its decision and resumed its deliveries as usual, though he added that such an interruption should not happen between allies.
When questioned about the potential duration of the ceasefire between Israel and the United States versus Iran, Saar remained non-committal, stating that Israel is prepared “for any situation”. He voiced support for former US President Trump’s diplomatic efforts regarding Iran. Saar outlined the primary demands of these efforts: that Iran destroy all enriched material and commit to never enriching uranium on Iranian soil. He, however, expressed skepticism regarding Iran’s willingness to comply with these demands.
Citing the escalating tensions in the region, the Israeli minister criticized what he sees as a lack of geopolitical foresight in European policy. According to Saar, Iran poses a threat not just to Israel, but to the entire region, asserting that many Arab states, particularly Gulf nations, recognize this danger.
Saar highlighted the strong relationship with the United Arab Emirates, describing it as “excellent”. He attributed this closeness to the UAE’s demonstrated commitment to peace, noting that after the country began exchanging textbooks and ceasing anti-Jewish rhetoric, Israel knew that the UAE was genuinely serious about peace. Of all the peace treaties in the region, Saar argued that the UAE is the closest to full normalization-not only between its government and Israel, but also among its citizenry.