JERUSALEM, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commended on Thursday Germany for approving large drones deal, saying it will boost bilateral relations and Israel's defense industry.

Netanyahu said that the German parliament approved the one-billion-euro deal on Wednesday following a green light from the German government. Under the deal, Germany would lease Israeli drones over a period of nine years.

"This is a great contribution to the Israeli security industry and to the Israeli economy," Netanyahu said in a statement released on his behalf.

"The giant deal is an expression of the strategic partnership between Germany and Israel and attests to the potential of Israeli industry to contribute to countries such as Germany," he said.

He also thanked German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her involvement in the issue and said had discussed it with her in their previous meetings, including their last meeting last week in Berlin.

According to Israeli media, the drones are Heron type, a medium-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by the Israel Aerospace Industry.?