Israel is going to review the process by which it purchased billions of euros worth of German submarines for its military – a transaction shrouded in controversy, an official said.
A spokesperson for Defence Minister, Benny Gantz, said this on Monday in Tel Aviv.
Israeli prosecutors have already looked into charges of possible corruption linked to the case.
The controversy has also ensnared Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been questioned in the case, though he is not considered a suspect.
But he does stand accused of pushing the deal through against the wishes of the military and the Defence Ministry.
The issue is frequently highlighted in weekly protests calling for Netanyahu to step down.
Gantz will set up a commission that will look into points that have been brought up by representatives of the justice and defence ministries.
It should report back within four months.
The deal saw Israel buy six German submarines, which were partially financed by German tax money.
Corruption charges percolated when five of them were delivered in 2016, when three further purchases were announced.
The case first made headlines when it was revealed that David Shimron – a relative of Netanyahu’s who has also worked as his personal attorney – was contracted by the Israeli representative of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, TKMS.
Shimron was also a lawyer for businessman Miki Ganor, who was a TKMS distributor and stood to receive a million-dollar commission from the deal.
Shimron is facing charges of money laundering, while Ganor is facing bribery charges, according to reports from December.
dpa/NAN
