It's hard to overestimate the importance of the Arrow 3 export deal to Germany. The boon extends to all aspects of our lives – economic, diplomatic, and defense – but above all, it is symbolic: Some 80 years after World War II and the Holocaust, Israel is poised to protect Germans and many parts of Europe.
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There is no need to elaborate on how great the missile interceptor is. Israel has been a trailblazer in missile defense: Some systems are already operational (the Arrow, David's Sling, and Iron Dome), with laser-based systems already being developed. It has gained this stature because of the missiles fired on it from Iraq in the Gulf War and later because of the proliferation of missiles in the region, which made it essential to continuously develop and improve its capabilities. Because it had realized that it always had to be one step ahead of its enemies – all enemies – it eventually dared to go far and beyond, becoming a global powerhouse in this field
The brains for this endeavor are Israeli, but the deep pockets that funded it are red, white, and blue. The US has been a key partner in all the development and production phases of the system batteries and interceptors. This is why the Israeli defense industries set up a subsidiary in the US so that some of the production could be carried out there and create jobs for Americans – which is not lost on Congress when it needs to sign off on the funding.
This partnership may be transactional in the official sense – the US must sign off on all deals, including the one with Germany – but it is also part of a moral covenant: Israel and the US see eye to eye when it comes to the threats, and work jointly to counter them in the best possible way. This has been the case in the Middle East, and most recently in Europe, where the Ukraine war has disrupted the balance of power and made it imperative to adapt the force build-up.
The fact that the Israeli system was chosen over the French one – despite a strong European lobby – is a badge of honor to the Arrow 3's proven effectiveness but also underscores Germany's desire to join the US-Israel alliance on this limited and complex aspect of missile defense.
This deal will generate immense dividends across the board. Money and jobs are the immediate benefits; later on, the deal will produce closer diplomatic and defense ties with a host of countries, chiefly Germany, during a period where Israel's overall image is suboptimal due to the ongoing domestic turbulence.
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