by Mara Vigevani
The investigation into Case 3000, also known as the Submarines Affair has concluded, and enough evidence has been gathered to indict six of those involved, including Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s attorney and second cousin David Shimron, Israeli Police stated Thursday.
Shimron served during the relevant period as a representative for the German corporation Thyssenkrupp in Israel and promoted a deal using his status and proximity to the prime minister, as well as other public officials. He is suspected of receiving payments that were defined as a “reward for success.”
Police also recommended charging Netanyahu’s former bureau chief David Sharan, former Navy commander Vice Admiral (Res.) Eli ‘Chiney’ Marom, former deputy head of the National Security Council Brig. Gen. (Res.) Avriel Bar Yosef, businessman Brig. Gen. (Res.) Shay (Shayke) Brosh, and former Minister and Chairman of Keren Hayesod, Mody Zandberg.
Police said there was insufficient evidence to charge Netanyahu’s closest confidant and long-time diplomatic envoy Yitzhak Molcho, who was also named as a suspect in the Submarine Affair.
The scandal revolves around alleged corruption to facilitate Israel’s purchase of advanced nuclear submarines from Germany’s Thyssenkrupp shipbuilding conglomerate, reportedly against the advice of the IDF.
Netanyahu, who reportedly pushed for the deal to include more submarines than recommended by the security establishment, has not been directly implicated, though he was questioned by the police in the matter. The prime minister claimed he had no idea Shimron was involved in the deal.
In response to the scandal, German authorities put the $2 billion deal on hold after Thyssenkrupp’s current local representative, Miki Ganor, was arrested on suspicion of bribery. Ganor subsequently agreed to testify for the state and told police that Shimron stood to earn at least a $9 million commission from the transaction.