Case dates back to period between 2009 and 2016, when Israel purchased submarines from Germany under deal now under investigation over suspected irregularities
Israel's Supreme Court approved a petition Thursday submitted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to postpone the sessions of an inquiry committee investigating a German submarine deal in which several of his close associates are accused of corruption.
The court issued the temporary freeze in response to the petition filed by Netanyahu and other officials, who had been warned that they might face charges, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority (KAN) reported.
Although Netanyahu himself is not formally accused in the case, the inquiry committee has said that the investigation's findings could be damaging to him.
KAN noted that while the investigation is not expected to result in direct charges against Netanyahu, it could implicate him in obstructing state institutions and making sensitive security and diplomatic decisions unilaterally, without consulting relevant authorities or maintaining official records, thereby hampering oversight of his actions.
The “submarine affair” dates back to the period between 2009 and 2016, during which Israel purchased submarines from Germany under a deal now under investigation over suspected irregularities.
In December 2019, the Attorney General's Office filed indictments against individuals close to Netanyahu in connection with the case, though his name was not included among the suspects.
The submarine case involves two arms deals between Israel and the German shipbuilding company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.
Under the first deal, Israel purchased three submarines worth €1.5 billion, and under the second, warships worth €430 million, intended to protect its offshore natural-gas drilling platforms.
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