Ya’alon testified against Netanyahu in submarine affair — report
Ex-defense minister's claim that PM was directly involved in purchase of subs could lead to full criminal investigation, Channel 2 says
Former defense minister Moshe Ya’alon reportedly testified against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the so-called submarine scandal, in which the premier’s personal lawyer allegedly swayed multi-billion shekel deals in favor of the German shipbuilder he represented in Israel.
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 known as “Case 3000” over his knowledge over efforts to purchase naval vessels from the German company ThyssenKrupp.
According to a report by Channel 2 on Saturday night, the ex-defense minister’s testimony may prompt police to launch a full-blown criminal investigation into the affair.
According to the TV station, Ya’alon told police Netanyahu was directly involved in negotiating the purchase of at least three submarines with German officials. These talks were done without the involvement of Israel’s security establishment, Ya’alon 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 to make way for his new coalition partner, Yisrael Beytenu 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.
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit ordered the Israel Police to formally look into the submarine affair in November 2016, after accusations surfaced that the prime minister may have been swayed to purchase vessels by business ties David Shimron may have had with ThyssenKrupp. The purchase was opposed by parts of the defense establishment, including Ya’alon.
Earlier this week, Channel 2 news said Ya’alon’s questioning focused on three issues: The apparent change to a tender for naval vessels to suit Thyssenkrup; the decision by Netanyahu to purchase three new submarines despite disagreement with Ya’alon on the necessity; and the decision by Netanyahu to purchase two anti-submarine craft, despite the defense establishment not having a previous discussion about it.
A spokesman for Ya’alon told The Times of Israel that he did not know where the reports came from and declined to confirm or deny the questioning took place.
The deals for patrol boats and submarines came under intense scrutiny late last year after it was revealed by Channel 10 news that Shimron also served in an advisory capacity for ThyssenKrupp, which was awarded the contracts for building Israel’s submarines and naval attack boats.
In December, officers from the Lahav 433 police anti-corruption unit entered the office of legal adviser Ahaz Ben-Ari at the Defense Ministry building in Tel Aviv and removed information from computers there. The data concerned the cancellation of an international tender to build four new warships to protect Israel’s offshore natural gas rigs in the Mediterranean Sea.
The contract was later awarded instead to ThyssenKrupp. Under the 2015 deal, worth €430 million ($480 million), ThyssenKrupp was to supply Israel with four “Sa’ar 6 corvette” ships over a period of five years.
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.
Channel 10 reported Monday that police were looking into two more possible criminal probes against Netanyahu, dubbing them “Case 3000” and “Case 4000.”
The TV report offered a “cautious estimation” that “Case 3000” deals with the submarine affair, but gave no information on “Case 4000.”
Channel 2 News said Tuesday that police sources deny the existence of “Case 4000.”
Netanyahu was questioned by police for a third time on Friday, over his dealings with billionaire Israeli film mogul Arnon Milchan, who allegedly gave the prime minister hundreds of thousands of shekels worth of gifts and an alleged quid pro quo deal between Netanyahu and Mozes, in which the prime minister reportedly promised to advance legislation that would reduce the pro-Netanyahu Israel Hayom daily’s circulation in exchange for friendlier coverage from Mozes’s Yedioth.
On Sunday, Israel Police chief Roni Alsheich said the probes were close to completion.
“We already know what conclusions we have reached in the investigation,” Alscheich told reporters, without elaborating. “I believe we will bring the material to the prosecutor for a decision in the next few weeks,” he said.
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.
Raoul Wootliff contributed to this report