Strategic damage to Israel: Sharp warning against the sale of the shipping giant

According to a report by Globes, the Director of the Shipping and Ports Authority, Tzadok Radker, sent a sharp letter this morning (Tuesday) to the relevant ministers, calling on them to officially oppose the sale of the Zim company to the German shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd. A professional analysis conducted by the Authority indicates that the move will cause strategic damage to Israel, reduce the state's maritime capabilities, and increase dependence on foreign entities instead of maintaining an independent global Israeli shipping company.

The Shipping and Ports Authority warns that transferring local operations to a fund does not guarantee the preservation of the Israeli connection, and any other claim does not stand the test of reality. Substantively, it is the German company that will hold the power centers, operational mechanisms, and critical resources. Therefore, a serious gap is created between minor legal ownership on paper and practical, effective control on the ground.

Status of the decision in government ministries

A number of government ministries have already completed staff work and expressed firm opposition to the deal in its current format, including the Ministries of Defense, Transportation, Economy, and Agriculture, alongside a similar public position from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense. However, the Ministry of Finance has not yet determined its policy.

The Shipping and Ports Authority emphasizes that avoiding a decision is not a neutral step, and urges ministers to use their authority under the golden share held by the state in the company, and to impose an official veto on the sale without further delays.