Police defend handling of submarines probe after criticism by ex-defense chief

The Israel Police defend their probe into alleged corruption in the purchase of naval vessels after a former defense minister implies they sought to prevent publication of details in the case.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is not a suspect in the case, has come under fire in recent days, from opposition figures who have questioned his assertion he was not aware of alleged criminality by a number of his close associates.

“We wish to clarify that the investigation was conducted in a thorough and professional manner with the sole purpose of clarifying the truth. The claims that Case 3000 was limited or narrowed by any senior law enforcement officials is a false claim, without any factual basis,” police say in a statement.

The statement comes shortly after former defense minister Moshe Ya’alon, who has accused Netanyahu of corruption in relation to the case, wrote a letter to Attorney General Avichai Mandeblit questioning the thoroughness of the investigation.

“The manner in which the investigation was conducted raises tough questions for me of a deliberate effort not to uncover the truth in this affair, which deals with the holy of holies of the state’s security,” Ya’alon writes.