Netanyahu and Officials Under Investigation in Submarine Case
The investigation committee into the submarine case has issued warning letters to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and four other officials, including former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon and former National Security Council Chairman Yossi Cohen. The letters indicate that these officials may be implicated in a corruption case involving bribes to secure a deal for purchasing submarines and warships from the German company Thyssenkrupp between 2009 and 2016.
Allegations of Corruption and Security Risks
The investigation reveals deliberate obstruction of work procedures and decision-making processes in sensitive cases. Netanyahu is accused of making decisions on political and security matters without proper examination, excluding relevant security officials, and failing to document meetings. This has reportedly led to profound and systematic disruption of work procedures, harming Israel's foreign relations and economic interests.
Netanyahu's Defense
In response, Netanyahu's office asserted that the purchase of submarines and naval ships was crucial for Israel's national security, particularly against threats from Iran. Netanyahu maintains that his decisions were in the best interest of Israel's security and that history will prove him right. The committee, however, contends that these actions endangered state security and disrupted regular processes, resulting in significant economic losses.
- The committee's findings also indicate that the sale of German submarines to Egypt was handled chaotically, with parallel channels operating without proper monitoring and hiding information from relevant parties. Sensitive diplomatic contacts were conducted carelessly, harming Israel's bargaining power and leading to an estimated economic loss of billions of shekels.
- The defense system and navy reportedly exploited the need to protect gas reserves to increase the fleet of ships without incurring additional defense budget expenses. Ships purchased were larger and more expensive than those approved by the government, further complicating the situation.
- The warning letters signify that the five senior officials may be adversely affected by the committee's final conclusions. They have 30 days to hire a lawyer and present their version to the committee.
