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Israel to probe purchase of German submarines

January 23, 2022

The massive deal between Israel and German firm Thyssenkrupp had prompted bribery accusations against aides of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel recently announced a new deal with the German giant.

https://p.dw.com/p/45yqW
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next to a German made submarine in a picture from 2014
The scandal has reached close confidants of Benjamin Netanyahu, but the politician has not been named as a suspectImage: Amir Cohen/Photoshot/picture alliance

Israel's Cabinet on Sunday approved a state commission of inquiry to investigate allegations of corruption involving the purchase of submarines and other warships from Germany.

The country paid around $2 billion (€1.76 billion) to purchase naval vessels for the Israeli navy between 2009 and 2016 from Germany's Thyssenkrupp.

Close confidants of Benjamin Netanyahu were implicated in the submarine affair, which is also known as Case 3,000 in Israel. The former prime minister has been questioned by police about the deal before but not named a suspect.

Netanyahu, now leader of the opposition, was accused of pushing through the deals against the military's and the defense ministry's will.

Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak called it "the most serious corruption scandal in Israel's history."

Defense Minister Benny Gantz who pushed for the inquiry, said it signaled "that you cannot play with Israel's defense.''

A mock up of a submarine on the back of a truck during a protests in Jerusalem demanding an investigation into an arms deal between Israel and Germany
In Jerusalem, protesters used submarine mockups to decry the affairImage: Nir Alon/ZUMA Press Wire/picture alliance

Inquiry has broad powers

The state commission will look at the procurement process but not investigate defendants currently on trial.

In addition, the circumstances under which Israel agreed to the sale of German submarines to Egypt would be probed.

A state commission of inquiry has broad powers to call witnesses, compel testimony, and make recommendations for further action against both individuals and public sector bodies.

The investigation comes only days after Israel announced a new deal worth €3 billion ($3.4 billion) to buy 3 submarines from Thyssenkrupp.

The new deal had been on hold for years because of the corruption allegations surrounding the previous deal.

lo/dj (AP, AFP, dpa)