The arrival in Israel of a new submarine built in Germany was speeded up for "security reasons," an army spokesman said on military radio Tuesday.
The submarine arrived in the country on Sunday and was due to be handed over officially on Tuesday, said a Colonel Youval, whose full name was not given on the radio.
"The arrival in Israel of the submarine, named Tekuma (Hebrew for renaissance) ... was accelerated for security reasons," he said.
He refused to comment on claims by foreign sources that the submarine will have a nuclear capacity.
The daily Maariv newspaper said the decision to speed up the arrival of the submarine was prompted by fears of an attack on Israel amid growing tension in the Middle East.
Tekuma is the third Dolphin-class submarine to be built in Germany for the Israeli navy -- JERUSALEM (AFP)
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