Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has agreed to sell defensive military systems to Israel, saying it is his country's "historic and moral duty".

The sale or lease of the Patriot systems could help Israel to prevent attacks from Iraq should conflict erupt there.

If the Israeli Government feels it needs this added security, we will help - and promptly

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder

Germany has strongly opposed American belligerence towards Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and Mr Schroeder has made it clear that Germany would not join any US-led war.

Israel first asked for the weapons more than a year ago, and has recently renewed its request against the background of rising tension over Iraq.

Mr Schroeder told Die Zeit newspaper he would be happy to help Israel with a system that is not used for attacks but as protection against incoming missiles.

"If the Israeli Government feels it needs this added security, we will help - and promptly," he was quoted as saying in the interview, which is scheduled to be published on Thursday.

"This is our moral and historic duty," he said.

Gerhard Schroeder stressed that the missiles were purely for defence

"The security of the Israeli state and its citizens is of utmost importance to us," he said, referring to Germany's Nazi past when Jews were targeted for extermination.

In the last Gulf War, Iraq fired 39 Scud missiles into Israel.

The US-built Patriot systems are designed to intercept and destroy incoming missiles and though they failed to stop most of the Scuds, they have since been upgraded.

The Reuters news agency reported that the German military has said it has six Patriot systems which it no longer needs.