Chancellor Karl Nehammer held intensive talks in Jerusalem on Israeli weapons technology and energy. Gas from Israel could replace 10 percent of Russian exports. Cooperation against cybercrime was also negotiated.
Chancellor Nehammer, Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner and Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (all ÖVP) held intensive talks in Israel on issues of security and energy supply in view of the war situation in Europe. The chancellor took a clearer stance on Austria’s external security than rarely before: “The threat of missiles has come closer. It turned our previous strategic actions upside down. We must ensure air defense.”
According to a government decision, the defense capacity of the federal army must be significantly strengthened. Israel’s weapons technology is a world leader. Nehammer sees ‘promising potential, for example in missile defense and drones’.
In addition to military security, Austria also needs energy security. Israel has discovered important natural gas fields off the coast and wants to start exporting gas. It could replace at least 10 percent of Russia’s gas exports in two years.
Registered interest in Israeli natural gas
Chancellor Nehammer has expressed his interest: “Unfortunately, we will have to act nationally in the energy supply until the EU’s joint procurement platform gets underway.”
Home Affairs Minister Karner has also sharply criticized the EU Commission given the increasing number of people smugglers: “Protecting the EU’s external borders does not work at all, otherwise illegal migration would not increase by 20%, even for us as landlocked EU country.”
The interior minister negotiated with his Israeli counterpart on measures against cybercrime, which poses a threat to the security of the West, such as the serious hacking attack on the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Israel is a world leader in cyber defense.
Touching friendship between the two bosses
Such a thing rarely happens in politics: a genuine friendship, indeed a deep bond, has developed between the two heads of government, Nehammer and Lapid. It started in January when Nehammer accompanied his counterpart to Mauthausen concentration camp. It was there that Lapid discovered his grandfather’s name.
Through the profound shock of this experience (“Grandfather, you have won!”), the Israeli politician gained confidence in a prosperous future together. This was immediately apparent during the welcome in Tel Aviv. Prime Minister Lapid to Chancellor: “Thank you for taking up this challenge. I will never forget you. My mother cried when she saw the scenes in Mauthausen.”
Nehammer later in the “Krone” talk, how he explains these deep emotions of his counterpart: “We met each other openly and honestly, with the will to process both our histories. This challenge for descendants of victims and perpetrators is incredibly liberating for both of us as we look to the future.”
“No digging ditches in Austria”
Chancellor Nehammer also did not let go of domestic politics in Israel. In an ORF interview in Jerusalem on the current issues, he advocated not to dig rifts in the face of the global crisis.
Source: Krone
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