Israel’s Cabinet Approves State Inquiry Into Submarine Purchase From Germany

Israel’s Cabinet voted to establish a formal state commission of inquiry into the so-called submarine affair, which will examine allegations of corruption in the purchase of submarines and other naval vessels from the German company ThyssenKrupp in a $2 billion deal in 2016. The purchase of the two submarines that have already been delivered to Israel is at the center of one of the three corruption cases for which former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu currently is on trial. Some 26 government ministers voted to approve the commission, which was proposed by Defense Minister Benny Gantz. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett abstained from the vote, and Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked voted against the commission. The Knesset’s ministerial committee for defense procurement last week authorized the purchase of three more submarines from ThyssenKrupp at a cost of $2.73 billion, which includes a subsidy from Germany.