Protest urges probe into Netanyahu submarine case

(14 Oct 2020) Hundreds of Israelis protested against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Wednesday calling for him to be investigated in a $2 billion submarine deal with Germany. Several Israeli businessmen, including confidants of Netanyahu and a former commander of the navy, are suspects in a graft scandal connected to the purchase of the warships and submarines from German conglomerate ThyssenKrupp. The protesters, many in their cars, carried makeshift submarines on top of their vehicles as they drove past the country’s Supreme Court. Netanyahu, who is on trial in three other corruption cases, was questioned but not named as a suspect in the scandal and no one active in the Israeli navy has been connected. Dan Halutz, former commander of the Israeli military, accused Netanyahu of hiding relevant information from military staff when deciding to purchase the submarines from Germany. Netanyahu is standing trial on separate charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate corruption cases in which he is accused of trading regulatory or legislative favors in exchange for lavish gifts and favourable news coverage. He has professed innocence in all three, saying the charges are trumped up by a biased justice system egged on by a liberal media. He has also been facing growing dissatisfaction with his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the economy with weekly protests against him being held for over three months. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: ​​ Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: