Israel Police recommend Netanyahu aide be charged

Israeli police said yesterday “sufficient” evidence had been found to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s lawyer and a number of his confidants in a case involving the $2 billion purchase of submarines  from Germany.

Police also recommended indicting Netanyahu’s former chief of staff, David Sharan, the former Israeli naval commander, Eliezer Merom, and a number of former Israeli navy generals, in what has become known as Case 3000.

“During the investigation suspicions arose that during that relevant period a series of former and current public officials and senior executives, together with business and private individuals, took part and received benefits from the businessman in cash and cheques and illegal contracts,” the statement read.

Netanyahu is currently entangled in four political scandals: Case 1000 which involves allegations that the PM and his wife accepted illegal gifts from businessmen; Case 2000 which accuses Netanyahu of attempting to buy favourable newspaper coverage; Case 3000, also known as the “submarine scandal”; and Case 4000, in which a close associate of Netanyahu is suspected of providing confidential information to Israel’s largest telecoms company.

The prime minister’s wife, Sara Netanyahu, has also been accused of using public funds for private expenditure in the prime minister’s households. Only 20 per cent of respondents to the recent survey believe she is innocent.

Read: Netanyahu compares Israel to settler colonialists