Germany holds naval exercise with Israel amid Gaza war Germany and Israel held a joint naval exercise off the coast of Haifa on Thursday, with the Israeli military describing the drill as a step toward strengthening operational cooperation between the two navies. According to the Israeli military, a German navy vessel docked at Haifa ahead of the exercise, while German commanders Volker Kubsch and Rico Geisler met with Rear Admiral Erez Ben Zion, commander of the Haifa Naval Base. The drill took place as Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza.