Interrogation and Arrest of Several Former Israeli Officials Regarding Corruption in Submarine Purchases

Israeli police have detained and interrogated several government officials, Prime Minister's Office personnel, and former military commanders in connection with allegations of corruption and collusion regarding the purchase of modern submarines from Germany for the country's military. There is also a possibility that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Energy will be summoned for questioning as 'witnesses'. According to Israeli media, the anti-corruption unit of the police arrested a former minister, another former head of the Prime Minister's Office staff, and a former commander of the Navy's commando unit on Sunday and Monday, September 3 and 4. Among those arrested are former minister Eliyazer Moti Zandberg, former Prime Minister's Office chief David Sharan, and Navy Brigadier General Shai Baruch, commander of the renowned commando unit. The report states that at least eight other senior state and military officials have been added to the list of potential defendants in the submarine purchase corruption case from Germany. Former Navy commander Eliyazer (Chinese) Marom has also been interrogated and was taken for questioning from Ben Gurion Airport shortly before starting a foreign trip. Advisors to several ministers and two former members of Israel's National Security Council have also been among those interrogated in this context. Israeli media, citing investigators from the anti-corruption unit, have suggested that Yuval Steinitz, the Minister of Energy in Benjamin Netanyahu's government and former head of the Iran file in the Israeli government, or even Netanyahu himself, may be questioned as 'witnesses' in this matter. Avichai Mandelblit, the government's legal advisor, had stated months ago that Netanyahu is not accused in the submarine purchase case, known as 'Case 3000'. Israel has purchased several new submarines from the German shipbuilding company ThyssenKrupp, and the interrogation of former Israeli officials is related to how the deal was structured with this company, in which Iran also has a minor stake. According to Western media reports, the purchased submarines are capable of nuclear strikes. Some Israeli media and rivals of the Prime Minister had previously stated that the fact that Iran is a shareholder in ThyssenKrupp should be investigated, as it may allow Israeli military secrets to reach Iran through the deal with ThyssenKrupp. However, Israeli judicial and legal officials apparently have not found evidence for this part of the speculation. The corruption allegations regarding the submarine purchases arose when former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon raised them shortly after being sidelined by Benjamin Netanyahu. The unprecedented arrests among former military and political officials, which have topped Israeli news reports, come as Netanyahu himself faces a mountain of personal problems. Israeli media have reported that the Israeli prosecution will not only issue an indictment against Sara Netanyahu, the Prime Minister's wife, next week for misusing state funds amounting to $110,000, but the fate of two open cases against the Prime Minister himself will also be clarified by the end of the calendar year. The anti-corruption unit of the police has interrogated Netanyahu several times; two cases related to receiving gifts such as cigars and champagne from billionaire friends (known as Case 1000) and collusion with the owner of the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper (known as Case 2000) are currently under investigation by the police. In recent days, Netanyahu has stated in two speeches to his supporters that rivals who cannot remove him from the premiership want to tire him and his wife by bringing 'baseless accusations'. Netanyahu also referred to these accusations as 'the worthless foam of the sea' this week. Benjamin Netanyahu's premiership has lasted longer than all his predecessors, except for David Ben-Gurion, but polls indicate that the majority of public opinion still considers him worthy of the premiership. Ayelet Shaked, Israel's Minister of Justice, reiterated a few days ago that even if an indictment is issued against Netanyahu, he can remain in the position of Prime Minister. However, the Jerusalem Post reported on Monday that if Sara Netanyahu, who has been interrogated for years, is tried again, it could be a blow to the Prime Minister. Ehud Olmert, a former Prime Minister of Israel, who was sentenced to 19 months in prison for financial misconduct, has recently been released.