Yamina to oppose state inquiry into submarine affair — report

Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked has informed Defense Minister Benny Gantz that the Yamina party will oppose the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the so-called submarine affair, Channel 12 reports.

Shaked and other Yamina sources tell Gantz the issue is not in the coalition agreements, according to the network.

Gantz intends to bring the proposal to the cabinet on Sunday. He will “go all the way” to advance the state inquiry, sources tell Channel 12.

The submarine affair, known as Case 3000, revolves around allegations of a massive bribery scheme in Israel’s multi-billion-shekel purchase of naval vessels — submarines and large missile ships — from German shipbuilder Thyssenkrupp. The scandal also involved the sale of two Dolphin-class submarines and two anti-submarine warships by Germany to Egypt, allegedly approved by former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu without consulting or notifying then-defense minister Moshe Ya’alon and then-IDF chief of staff Gantz. Israel had long been granted an unofficial veto over such sales by Germany. Netanyahu’s confidants were suspects in the criminal case, but the former premier was not implicated.