“Our submarine fleet serves as a deterrent to our enemies who seek our destruction,” he said. “They need to know that Israel is capable of hitting with very great force anyone who tries to harm us. And Israel’s citizens need to know that Israel is a very strong country that is doing everything to defend them, everywhere and on every front.”

Netanyahu’s comments came at a docking ceremony in Haifa. To underscore the significance of the occasion, the event was attended by President Reuven Rivlin, Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen Gadi Eizenkot, and Navy Adm. Ram Rothberg.

Netanyahu said that Israel is aiming for superiority on all fronts and is active in cyberspace, in the air, in space, on the ground, and under the ground against the threat of tunnels, in the seas, and underwater with the country’s German-built submarine fleet.

The navy, including the submarine fleet, undertakes “daring operations far from its mother base, and – to the same degree – far from everyone’s eyes,” he said.

To the applause of those gathered, he thanked German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Joachim Gauck for their “great contribution to fortifying our naval force through supplying these submarines and through outer important means we are discussing.”

Netanyahu said there was an “ironclad law” in the Middle East, that weak countries have difficulty surviving, but a strong country “is a able to repel its threats and ensure its security and future.”

The new submarine is Israel’s fifth Dolphin-class submarine. Israel’s submarines are reportedly armed with nuclear missiles that – if the reports are accurate – would give the country a strategic second strike capability.

The INS Rahav is the most expensive weaponry ever purchased by Israel, and is considered a “force multiplier” that will allow Israel to cope with the regional threats.

The INS Rahav, together with the INS Tanin – the fourth Dolphin sub, delivered to Israel in 2012 – and the sixth sub, which is still being built, will cost a total of some 1.4 billion Euro ($1.8 billion). The German government is reportedly covering a third of that cost.

Israel will “know how to reach any place in the Middle East, and beyond, and place its hands on terrorist operatives, their commanders, and those who dispatch them, and if we have to, also strike the weapons they seek to stockpile in order to use against us,” Ya’alon said at the ceremony.

The INS Rahav forms a central component in Israel’s power, and like the other four Dolphin submarines in the Israeli fleet, will allow the navy to continue to work with other IDF branches and units to “thwart the wicked intentions of our enemies to disrupt our lives,” Ya’alon said.

The submarines not know provide maximum defenses for Israeli residents, but also hold “offensive capabilities that enable us to strike in any place we choose, along Israel’s coasts and far from them,” he added.

The defense minister also thanked Germany for its commitment to Israel’s defense.

The submarines and the sailors who operate them “will do so as they do today: In silence they will, with surprise and creativity, burst forward from the depth, and sometimes return to their bases without leaving a mark, placing another brick in Israel’s defensive wall,” Ya’alon added.

At a time in which the Middle East is seeing the collapse of states around Israel, and the rise of relentless terror organizations, Israel must act “with determination and power against those who seek its harm, but also with responsibility and good judgement,” he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen at a welcoming ceremony for the new submarine ‘Rahav’ at the Israeli navy base in Haifa, on January 12, 2016.  (Credit: GPO)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen at a welcoming ceremony for the new submarine ‘Rahav’ at the Israeli navy base in Haifa, on January 12, 2016. (Credit: GPO)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen at a welcoming ceremony for the new submarine ‘Rahav’ at the Israeli navy base in Haifa, on January 12, 2016.  (Credit: GPO)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen at a welcoming ceremony for the new submarine ‘Rahav’ at the Israeli navy base in Haifa, on January 12, 2016.  (Credit: GPO)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen at a welcoming ceremony for the new submarine ‘Rahav’ at the Israeli navy base in Haifa, on January 12, 2016.  (Credit: GPO)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and president Reuven Rivlinseen at a welcoming ceremony for the new submarine ‘Rahav’ at the Israeli navy base in Haifa, on January 12, 2016.  (Credit: GPO)

Israel Navy soldiers stand on the Rahav, the fifth submarine in the fleet, as it docks in Haifa port January 12, 2016. The Dolphin-class submarines, widely believed to be capable of firing nuclear missiles, were manufactured in Germany and sold to Israel at deep discounts as part of Berlin’s commitment to shoring up the security of the country set in part as a haven for Jews who survived the Holocaust.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) walks on the Rahav, the fifth submarine in the fleet, after it arrived in Haifa port January 12, 2016. The Dolphin-class submarines, widely believed to be capable of firing nuclear missiles, were manufactured in Germany and sold to Israel at deep discounts as part of Berlin’s commitment to shoring up the security of the country set in part as a haven for Jews who survived the Holocaust.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu climbs out after a visit inside the Rahav, the fifth submarine in the fleet, after it arrived in Haifa port January 12, 2016. The Dolphin-class submarines, widely believed to be capable of firing nuclear missiles, were manufactured in Germany and sold to Israel at deep discounts as part of Berlin’s commitment to shoring up the security of the country set in part as a haven for Jews who survived the Holocaust.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu climbs out after a visit inside the Rahav, the fifth submarine in the Israeli Navy’s fleet, after it arrived in Haifa port January 12, 2016. The Dolphin-class submarines, widely believed to be capable of firing nuclear missiles, were manufactured in Germany and sold to Israel at deep discounts as part of Berlin’s commitment to shoring up the security of the country set in part as a haven for Jews who survived the Holocaust.

Israeli navy crew stand on the new submarine ‘Rahav’ during a welcoming ceremony as it enters the Israeli navy base in Haifa, Israel, 12 January 2016. The vessel, which was built in Kiel,  Germany, is Israel’s fifth submarine and is said to be capable of firing nuclear warheads. (Credit: EPA)

Israeli navy crew stand on the new submarine ‘Rahav’ during a welcoming ceremony as it enters the Israeli navy base in Haifa, Israel, 12 January 2016. The vessel, which was built in Kiel,  Germany, is Israel’s fifth submarine and is said to be capable of firing nuclear warheads. (Credit: EPA)

Israeli navy crew prepare to moor the new submarine ‘Rahav’ during a welcoming ceremony as it enters the Israeli navy base in Haifa, Israel, 12 January 2016. The vessel, which was built in Kiel,  Germany, is Israel’s fifth submarine and is said to be capable of firing nuclear warheads. (Credit: EPA)

Israeli navy crew stand on the new submarine ‘Rahav’ during a welcoming ceremony as it enters the Israeli navy base in Haifa, Israel, 12 January 2016. The vessel, which was built in Kiel,  Germany, is Israel’s fifth submarine and is said to be capable of firing nuclear warheads. (Credit: EPA)

Israeli navy crew stand on the new submarine ‘Rahav’ during a welcoming ceremony as it enters the Israeli navy base in Haifa, Israel, 12 January 2016. The vessel, which was built in Kiel,  Germany, is Israel’s fifth submarine and is said to be capable of firing nuclear warheads. (Credit: EPA)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) raises the Israeli flag on the new submarine ‘Rahav’ during a welcoming ceremony in the Israeli navy base in Haifa, Israel, 12 January 2016. The vessel, which was built in Kiel,  Germany, is Israel’s fifth submarine and is said to be capable of firing nuclear warheads. (Credit: EPA)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a welcoming ceremony for the new submarine ‘Rahav’ at the Israeli navy base in Haifa, Israel, 12 January 2016. The vessel, which was built in Kiel, Germany, is Israel’s fifth submarine and is said to be capable of firing nuclear warheads. (Credit: EPA)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) raises the Israeli flag on the new submarine ‘Rahav’ during a welcoming ceremony in the Israeli navy base in Haifa, Israel, 12 January 2016. The vessel, which was built in Kiel,  Germany, is Israel’s fifth submarine and is said to be capable of firing nuclear warheads. (Credit: EPA)