Submarine affair state commission finds ‘systemic failings’ endangered state security

The State Commission of Inquiry into the submarine affair finds “systemic failings” in Israel’s acquisition of naval vessels under a Benjamin Netanyahu-led government, as well as in the sale of naval vessels to Egypt by Germany with Israel’s approval, which it says endangered national security.

The so-called submarine affair, also known as Case 3000, revolves around allegations of a massive bribery scheme in the multibillion-shekel state purchase of the naval vessels from German shipbuilder Thyssenkrupp in the early 2010s. The case led to a number of indictments against close confidants of Netanyahu but not the premier himself.

The State Commission of Inquiry was established in 2022 under the short-lived government of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid to examine submarine and naval vessel purchases that occurred under Netanyahu’s government, and the sale by the German Thyssenkrupp company of submarines and naval vessels to Egypt, with Netanyahu’s apparent approval.

The commission now issues its findings, saying Israeli governments failed to establish clear policies and strategy, made case-specific decisions and ignored the broader picture of the country’s security requirements “in a manner that endangered state security.”

“Decisions by the political echelon must be made through an organized process, in which professional agents participate and considerations — political and professional — are taken into account… This was not the case in the naval vessel affair,” the commission finds.

The current document of recommendations does not include an analysis of personal responsibility for the failings, and the formulation and publication of those findings will only happen once petitions filed to the High Court of Justice by those who were warned by the commission about their possible culpability, including Netanyahu, have been adjudicated.