PM says police questioning ‘welcome opportunity’ to clarify submarine deal

A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says the prime minister “welcomed the opportunity to clarify the picture” for police investigating the submarine affair.

“The prime minister welcomes the opportunity given to him to clarify the picture and put an end once and for all to the false allegations made against him by politicians,” the statement from Netanyahu’s office says.

The prime minister was questioned for 5 hours today over suspicions he struck an illegal quid pro quo deal with Bezeq officials to guarantee him more favorable media coverage. During the questioning, police said Netanyahu also discussed their ongoing graft investigation into a multi-billion-shekel purchase of naval vessels and submarines from a German shipbuilder. Netanyahu is not a suspect in that case.

The statement from Netanyahu’s office did not mention the Bezeq investigation.