Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., December 02, 2008 Kislev 5, 5769 | | Israel Time: 13:08 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 12:14 01/12/2008
German firms seek to bypass Berlin sanctions on Iran
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Iran nuclear, Iran sanctions 

As Germany continues to express its firm commitment to economic sanctions on Iran, major trading bodies within the country have been openly violating them.

A business conference held in Hamburg last week discussed possible ways to circumvent the sanctions and instead increase trading ties with Tehran.

Foreign Ministry officials fumed over the fact that the conference was being held, to no avail.
Advertisement

According to a Jerusalem source, Israel received information last week that the conference, entitled "Sanctions on Iran and their practical implications on German companies," was slated to take place in Hamburg.

"It was clear to us that this title indicated a conference aimed entirely at teaching business people how to ignore the sanctions of the Security Council and European Union," the source said.

Israel's ire over the conference only increased after it was revealed that the conference's main sponsor had been none other than Iran's Melli Bank.

The Iranian bank is suspected of funding terror and of financing the Iranian nuclear project. The Unites States and EU have consequently imposed sanctions on the bank, freezing many of its assets.

Israel has since protested to German authorities, requesting that the conference be cancelled despite it being a private event. Israel's ambassador to Berlin has even called for the intervention of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The German response was ambiguous. At first the German officials stated there was not enough time to cancel the event. A later response said the private nature of the event rendered it outside the realm of government responsibility.

However, the Germans expressed their unease and told the Israeli ambassador they felt "great shame" in the fact that the conference was being held.

"We are trying to take action against trade with Iran, but we had no legal way to stop this from taking place," German officials said.

The Hamburg conference is the latest in a recent series of events that have raised Israel's ire over Germany's conduct on the Iranian issue. In September 2007 Germany sponsored a conference calling for increased trading ties with Tehran; in June Haaretz revealed an 18-percent rise in trade between the two countries over the first quarter of 2008, while over the same month a German gas company forged a deal with Iran worth 100 million euros.

Another awkward incident took place two months ago, when Germany's military envoy to Tehran participated in a parade in which missiles were exhibited bearing the slogan: "Wiping Israel off the map."

Related articles:
  • IN-DEPTH / How Israel managed to hinder Iran nuclear plans
  • Experts argue: How close is Iran to its first nuclear weapon?
  • U.S. fears opening Tehran mission will aid Ahmadinejad
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Boycotting Wagner
    The composer's works will remain a sensitive topic in Israel for many years.
    Bound for Gaza
    The Libyan ship is the most notable attempt yet to break the Gaza blockade.
      1.   If Haaretz had published this before the conference took place 12:16  |  Taly 01/12/08
      2.   taly and all the rest of the readers 12:44  |  scallywag 01/12/08
      3.   TRADING WITH IRAN 12:47  |  Alka Seltzer 01/12/08
      4.   Germany trading with Iran 13:11  |  Adam Berkley 01/12/08
      5.   Germany Trading with Iran (2) 13:14  |  Adam Berkley 01/12/08
      6.   Germans socially boycotted deserters from Wehrmaht decades after 13:39  |  Absolute Sweden 01/12/08
      7.   Germany and the Iranian extermination program 14:00  |  Jonathan S 01/12/08
      8.   Birds of a feather? 14:00  |  Harvey 01/12/08
      9.   8 tears of Bush`s policy led to nuclear Iran - food for thought 14:22  |  Radovan 01/12/08
      10.   German high tech trade 15:03  |  Dee 01/12/08
      11.   Trading with Iran #5 15:19  |  Jonathan S 01/12/08
      12.   Israel`s ire 15:38  |  Danny 01/12/08
      13.   offense vs. defense 17:10  |  who cares 01/12/08
      14.   Good for Germany and Iran 17:44  |  noname 01/12/08
      15.   it`s like that 18:12  |  christoph 01/12/08
      16.   Widerlich 19:09  |  S 01/12/08
      17.   Good for Israel 19:17  |  Axel 01/12/08
      18.   Ungratefull Israelis 21:58  |  Magnus K. 01/12/08
      19.   Germany. another face. 23:06  |  The Teacher/Instruct 01/12/08
      20.   High time Germany and EU scraps the Iran sanctions 23:38  |  anonymous 01/12/08
      21.   Breading UN Sanctions? 23:43  |  Alex 01/12/08
      22.   # 19 alex 00:26  |  Axel 02/12/08
      23.   Gefreiter Axelchen and Magnus sing together 01:10  |  Absolute Sweden 02/12/08
      24.   21st century economics 01:28  |  Capt Ahab 02/12/08
      25.   Germany gives only lip service to Israel 02:40  |  Lori 02/12/08
      26.   To Absolute Sweden 02:48  |  Magnus K. 02/12/08
      27.   To Absolute Sweden (2nd try) 04:25  |  Magnus K. 02/12/08
     Read & React
    Mohammed Naim Farhat: What Israel hasn't tried in Gaza
    Responses: 20
    Haaretz writer Amira Hass detained by Sderot police for entering Gaza
    Responses: 81
    Renegade Chabad rabbi 'right of Kahane' plans run for Knesset
    Responses: 30
    Police on high alert over Tel Aviv terror warning
    Responses: 20
    Olmert: Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State will strengthen Israel-U.S. ties
    Responses: 42


    More Headlines
    12:33 Israel buries victims of Mumbai Chabad House attack
    13:07 Police call off terror alert in Tel Aviv; three suspects arrested
    11:31 Fresh clashes erupt between settlers and Palestinians in Hebron
    11:48 Labor goes to primary as party elders fear for their spots
    10:53 Obama mulls ex-ambassador to Israel, Daniel Kurtzer, as special Mideast envoy
    10:25 Olmert: Clinton as Secretary of State will strengthen Israel-U.S. ties
    12:44 'Sex and the City' creator Darren Star: Hollywood looking to Israel for ideas
    08:23 Renegade Chabad rabbi 'right of Kahane' plans run for Knesset
    11:57 Girl, 7, raped while participating in T.A. after-school club
    10:52 IDF troops shoot and kill wanted Palestinian during raid in Nablus
    09:33 YouTube's new Israel home page offers insight into local viewers
    09:30 Foreign Ministry: Israel won't guard Chabad houses abroad
    08:19 Czech FM to Haaretz: Armed action against Iran would be 'catastrophe'
    06:09 Olmert ponders AG offer for hearing prior to indictment in double-billing case
    06:40 Central bank chief Fischer says gut feeling on economy 'optimistic'
    06:14 Next to Hebron's 'House of Contention,' Palestinian neighbors live in fear
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Inbal Thanksgiving Sale
    Save up to 30% off reservations at the Finest Hotel in Jerusalem
    Israeli Style
    Summer in Israel
    Living in Israel Studying in English
    Click & Meet our students from all around the world
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Car rental in Israel
    Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates.
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
    www. israel-property.com
    Hebrew Summer courses
    From $39.95
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved