Knesset committee members call for freezing submarine deal

Twelve members of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee are calling for a freeze on a controversial submarine purchase while several high-level figures involved in the deal are being investigated for suspected corruption.

The demand of the 12 lawmakers plus MK Manuel Trajtenberg (Zionist Union), a member of a joint defense budget committee, comes after the disclosure that Netanyahu’s associates transferred the authority to execute the deal from the Defense Ministry to the Prime Minister’s Office.

The letter calls for the naval agreement to be put on hold until the completion of the police’s investigation.

Among the lawmakers who signed the letter to committee chairman Avi Dichter (Likud) were coalition MK Rachel Azaria (Kulanu) as well as opposition members from the Zionist Union, Yesh Atid and Meretz parties.

Investigators suspect bribes were paid out in connection with a decision by Netanyahu to buy three submarines from the German company ThyssenKrupp, despite opposition from the Israeli Defense Ministry.

Netanyahu is not a suspect in the case.

— Jacob Magid