Did Israel risk lives? Debate rages over Arrow missile shipments to Germany amid Iran war

The Jerusalem Post is investigating a critical question that strikes at the heart of national security and public trust: Did Israel's commitment to its allies, specifically Germany, compromise the safety of its own citizens during the recent Iranian missile barrage? The confirmation that Israel continued to supply Arrow air defense missiles to Berlin mid-conflict, even while facing its own shortage of interceptors, has ignited a fierce debate.

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Israel continued to send Arrow missiles to Berlin mid-war as part of a contract between the countries, even though Israel had a shortage of its own interceptors.

Commentators are accusing the Israeli government of a grave error in judgment, suggesting that the failure to deploy available Arrow systems against certain Iranian attacks may have directly led to Israeli casualties and injuries. Reports indicate that the David's Sling system, which was used in place of the Arrow for some long-range threats, missed its mark in critical instances, resulting in mass casualty events in Dimona and Arad. This raises serious questions about the strategic allocation of vital defense assets.

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the IDF did not use the Arrow to defend from certain attacks.

While David's Sling is a capable system, it was not designed for the long-range ballistic missile threats posed by Iran, unlike the Arrow system, which is specifically engineered for such scenarios, including interception outside Earth's atmosphere. The Jerusalem Post has previously reported on the significant economic benefits derived from the German contract, which not only provides billions in capital but also enables increased production of Arrow systems for both Israel and international customers. However, the core issue remains: can these economic advantages ever justify potentially risking Israeli lives? This is a question that resonates deeply within Israel, where the memory of past conflicts and the constant threat from Iran necessitate a constant re-evaluation of our defense priorities.

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the benefit of billions of dollars in German capital for purchasing Arrow systems not only brought economic benefits to Israel and IAI.