BICOM

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday during the weekly cabinet meeting that Iran was exploiting the recent instability in Egypt with its latest move to send naval ships through the Suez. “Israel views this Iranian move with gravity, and this move, along with other moves and developments, reinforces what I’ve been saying in recent years – that Israel’s defence needs will increase and the defence budget will grow accordingly,” PM Netanyahu said.

The passage of two Iranian naval ships that plan to pass through the Suez Canal has been delayed by 48 hours. Egypt’s canal authorities accepted the request for the naval ship and its supply ship to pass through the canal destined for the Mediterranean port of Latakia in Syria. It will be the first time since 1979 that an Iranian warship passes through the Canal.

The Israeli Navy is closely monitoring the situation but is not making any special preparations as intelligence assessments do not see the ships as posing a threat to Israel. The ships are not believed to be carrying any shipment of arms or ammunition but the one navy ship is equipped with Chinese missiles.