Israel threatens to block US aid to Egypt to stop German submarine deal

Israel has threatened to use its considerable influence over US foreign policy to block Egypt's purchase of two submarines from Germany. According to German press reports, Israel intends to prevent Egypt from buying two Class 209 submarines. Bild newspaper quoted Israeli diplomats as saying that Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi must first show that he can be trusted before such deals can be allowed. They were speaking during the visit of German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle to Israel.
"If this does not happen," said the unnamed sources, "Israel will use its influence in the United States to cut American aid to Egypt." They argued that it is unreasonable for the Egyptian government to appeal to
Washington for economic aid worth millions of dollars if this is then spent on arms and armaments.
A London-based commentator pointed out that as the exact details of the German deal are as yet unknown it is deceitful of the Israelis to suggest that Egypt would use economic aid from Washington to buy submarines.