Gantz and Sa'ar to launch official inquiry into Submarine Affair

JULY 17, 2021 15:34

Newly appointed Minister of Justice Gideon Saar with outgoing Minister of Justice Benny Gantz at a ceremony for replacing of minister, held at the Ministry for Justice in Jerusalem on June 14, 2021. (photo credit: OLIVIER FITOUSSI) — Newly appointed Minister of Justice Gideon Saar with outgoing Minister of Justice Benny Gantz at a ceremony for replacing of minister, held at the Ministry for Justice in Jerusalem on June 14, 2021.

(photo credit: OLIVIER FITOUSSI)

Considering the fact that "a criminal investigation is already ongoing in this case," Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit will oversee the process

Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Justice Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced Friday that they will initiate a process to launch an official inquiry into the purchase of Israel Navy ships and submarines in Case 3000, the so-called "Submarine Affair."

Considering the fact that "a criminal investigation is already ongoing in this case," Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit will oversee the process, a joint statement by Gantz and Sa'ar read.

The Investigation Now movement, which took an active role during the anti-Netanyahu protests this past year, thanked Gantz and Sa'ar for their announcement, praising it as "the right step in the right direction."

"An official inquiry committee that will investigate all aspects of the affair is the need of the hour," a statement by the movement read. "It is the moral and historical obligation of this 'change government' to restore public trust and remove any doubt behind this security affair, one of the most serious ones in our country's history."

The movement also demanded that Prime Minister Naftali Bennett express public support for the establishment of the committee, "in order to avoid any further delays."

The movement noted in its statement that it had dispatched a letter to Bennett and relevant ministers earlier this week, demanding that a state inquiry committee into the Submarine Affair be established immediately, warning that it would otherwise take legal action.

And while the movement seemed to support the step, it also voiced concern over Mandelblit's involvement in the process, tweeting: "Establishing an inquiry committee does not require an approval from the attorney-general, especially not from the same one allegedly involved in the Submarine Affair," referring to Mandelblit's decision to dismiss former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a suspect in the case.

ושוב היועמ"ש? בשביל להקים ועדת חקירה לא דרוש אישור היועמ"ש. במיוחד לא אותו יועמ"ש שלכאורה מעורב בפרשת הצוללות ובעיקר דאג לטייח עד עכשיו. https://t.co/6TCu2POr3O
— חקירה עכשיו Investigation Now (@Hakiranow) July 16, 2021

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LAST MONTH, Gantz surprised the other party leaders in the coalition when he announced that he would be initiating a state commission of inquiry into the Submarine Affair, making the decision without consulting them or seeking their approval.

The announcement angered Sa’ar, who released a sternly worded response, saying that his ministry had not received a draft proposal on forming the commission. He referred reporters to a clause in the coalition agreement prohibiting ministers from submitting proposals that are within the authority of another minister.

Gantz had said in November that he would set up a government committee of inquiry to investigate the procurement of new submarines and vessels from Germany but Netanyahu refused to approve it.

Then, more than half a year later on June 7, the state announced indictments in Case 3000 against Netanyahu’s former chief of staff, his then-nominee to lead the National Security Council and several other senior officials, while surprisingly dismissing cases against close confidant and cousin David Shimron and former navy chief Eliezer Marom.

The state said in December 2019 that it would likely indict all of the above listed officials, but since then, the suspects appeared at pre-indictment hearings held by the state attorney’s office and Shimron and Marom managed to convince the prosecution to drop the charges against them.

At one point, Mandelblit was also involved, since there were parts in the case which could have led to charges against Netanyahu himself. The attorney-general had the prime minister questioned as a fact witness, but he was never declared a suspect.

Yonah Jeremy Bob and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.