Rebuffing criticism, PMO issues timeline of submarine purchase
Netanyahu's office says itinerary shows acquisition of vessels 'was made according to recommendations of Navy, Defense Ministry'
The Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday published what it said was the full timeline of the process by which the state decided to purchase submarines from a German shipbuilding company, in an effort to demonstrate that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not attempt to influence the deliberations in any way.
Netanyahu’s conduct in the purchase is being reviewed by police, in one of the probes that have been launched into his affairs.
Known as Case 3000, it involves allegations that Netanyahu’s personal lawyer swayed the multi-billion-shekel deals in favor of German company ThyssenKrupp, which he represented in Israel. Police are checking whether the premier himself sought to influence the deals due to his ties to the attorney, David Shimron.
“Contrary to the claims in the media, the purchase of four ships was made in accordance with the recommendations of the Navy and the Defense Ministry,” the PMO said in a statement Sunday.
It then provided an itinerary of the internal discussions over the purchase, to reinforce that point. It included bullet points such as:
- 24.4.13 — Navy chief recommends moving forward with the purchase of vessels from Germany
- 11.9.13 — Defense Ministry director-general instructs his office that if a deal with Germany is possible, there is no need to issue a tender
- 11.13 — The cabinet decides to purchase the ship, giving preference to a deal with Germany
- 21.7.14 — Defense Ministry issues tender for ship purchases (after German deal falls through)
- 20.9.14 — Israeli Navy requests tender be frozen (after Germany signals renewed willingness to reach deal)
- 27.10.14 — Defense minister decides to freeze tender
- 12.14 — Israel and Germany sign a memorandum of understanding on the purchase of the ships
The PMO said the timeline was backed up by documentation.
“The prime minister and the cabinet acted according to the advice of the professional echelons,” it stressed.
Former defense minister Moshe Ya’alon reportedly testified against Netanyahu in the affair recently.
Ya’alon — ousted as defense minister last year in part over disagreements with Netanyahu over the purchase of new submarines — recently gave testimony in the probe.
According to a report by Channel 2 news on Saturday night, his testimony may prompt police to launch a full-blown criminal investigation into the affair.
According to the report, Ya’alon told police Netanyahu was directly involved in negotiating the purchase of at least three submarines with German officials. Those talks were done without the involvement of Israel’s security establishment, Ya’alon reportedly said.
Citing sources involved in the investigation, the TV report said investigators were under the impression Ya’alon “tried to show police investigators that Netanyahu’s motives were unscrupulous.”
Earlier this week, Channel 2 said the case was not currently focused on Netanyahu, but concerns people close to him.
Ya’alon and Netanyahu had a public falling-out last May, when the prime minister removed him from the Defense Ministry, making way for a new coalition partner, Yisrael Beytenu and its chief, Avigdor Liberman. That move prompted Ya’alon to quit politics and announce in his resignation speech that he would challenge Netanyahu for the premiership in a future election.
Netanyahu is currently a criminal suspect in two other formal police investigations. He denies any wrongdoing.
In “Case 1000,” police are investigating allegations that a number of businessmen gave lucrative gifts to Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, over his years in office. Police are also investigating another case, known as “Case 2000,” in which Netanyahu is believed to have offered the publisher of Israel’s biggest-selling daily Yedioth Ahronoth to reduce the impact of Yedioth’s pro-Netanyahu rival, Israel Hayom, in exchange for more favorable coverage.
According to the reports, by both Channel 2 and Channel 10, investigators are considering an indictment in one of two corruption probes into the prime minister. Netanyahu has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and instead accused the media and Israel’s left-wing politicians of seeking to bring him down.