Iron Dome in Germany — Qatar outraged by Israel's new move
Qatar, one of Volkswagen's largest shareholders, according to media reports, is opposing direct cooperation between the German automaker and the Israeli defense company Rafael. Now Germany is considering a scheme that would bypass these objections…
Assessment
Qatar's opposition to Volkswagen cooperating with Israel's Rafael defense firm has forced Germany to find a workaround. Lower Saxony, a Volkswagen shareholder, may buy part of the Osnabrueck plant and form a joint venture with Rafael directly, sidestepping Qatar's veto. This tests whether state ownership can override a major investor's geopolitical objections.