By Sabiu Abdullahi
Germany has confirmed that Israel moved its official government aircraft to Berlin over the weekend amid escalating strikes involving Iran.
A spokesperson for Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that the Israeli government sought permission to park the aircraft in Germany for security reasons. The request was approved.
Stefan Kornelius told reporters at a press conference in Berlin that no senior Israeli officials were on board when the plane arrived on Saturday.
“The Israeli government asked if they could park this plane here. We complied with that request,” he said.
He added that only the flight crew was present when the aircraft landed in Berlin.
The plane, known as the “Wing of Zion,” departed Israel on Saturday. Its movement led to speculation on social media that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might be travelling to Germany.
Flight tracking data showed the aircraft left Israel early in the afternoon. It remained over the Mediterranean Sea for several hours before heading to Germany. It later landed in Berlin that evening.
The Boeing 767 is specially configured for official overseas trips by Israel’s president and prime minister. Israeli media have reported that the aircraft is equipped with advanced secure communication systems.
The relocation took place as tensions escalated following strikes linked to the conflict between Israel and Iran. German authorities did not indicate how long the aircraft would remain in Berlin.
