1 feb 2017
New evidence unearthed by the German Newspaper Handelsblatt indicates that senior Israeli military and government officials received illegal payments from the German company which has supplied the Israeli army’s submarines.
According to the expose, Israel is one of three countries (the others are Greece and South Africa) in which ThyssenKrupp Company paid bribes to Israeli officials in order to win contracts to build surface vessels and submarines.
There is an ongoing police investigation into PM Netanyahu’s involvement in this affair. Last week former war minister Moshe Ya’alon gave detailed evidence to police on this matter. Following his testimony, police announced that the preliminary investigation of this affair will evolve into another full-blown corruption investigation against the Prime Minister.
This investigation is now likely to be broadened, and include allegations that several senior Israeli military officers and ministry officials also received corrupt payments from the German company.
According to a Channel 2 report, Ya’alon told police that Netanyahu was personally involved in attempts to bypass his ministry’s standard purchase requirements, including the publication of tenders to relevant companies.
The affair broke several weeks ago, following the expose on David Shimron’s involvement in the negotiations with ThyssenKrup, the German conglomerate that owns the shipyards that build the submarines.
Shimron is Netanyahu’s long time personal lawyer and was deeply involved in the negotiations to purchase new submarines. He reportedly gave the German company an ultimatum that if they wanted to complete the deal, they must replace their long-time representative in Israel, and appoint Michael (Miki) Ganor, a close friend of Shimron and Netanyahu, as their representative in Israel.
According to the expose, Israel is one of three countries (the others are Greece and South Africa) in which ThyssenKrupp Company paid bribes to Israeli officials in order to win contracts to build surface vessels and submarines.
There is an ongoing police investigation into PM Netanyahu’s involvement in this affair. Last week former war minister Moshe Ya’alon gave detailed evidence to police on this matter. Following his testimony, police announced that the preliminary investigation of this affair will evolve into another full-blown corruption investigation against the Prime Minister.
This investigation is now likely to be broadened, and include allegations that several senior Israeli military officers and ministry officials also received corrupt payments from the German company.
According to a Channel 2 report, Ya’alon told police that Netanyahu was personally involved in attempts to bypass his ministry’s standard purchase requirements, including the publication of tenders to relevant companies.
The affair broke several weeks ago, following the expose on David Shimron’s involvement in the negotiations with ThyssenKrup, the German conglomerate that owns the shipyards that build the submarines.
Shimron is Netanyahu’s long time personal lawyer and was deeply involved in the negotiations to purchase new submarines. He reportedly gave the German company an ultimatum that if they wanted to complete the deal, they must replace their long-time representative in Israel, and appoint Michael (Miki) Ganor, a close friend of Shimron and Netanyahu, as their representative in Israel.
31 jan 2017
German newspaper exposes that ThyssenKrupp ship builders paid bribes to high-ranking Israeli officials to receive contract to build submarines for the Israeli Navy.
New evidence unearthed by German newspaper Handelsblatt indicates that senior Israeli military and government officials received illegal payments from the German company that has supplied all six of the IDF’s submarines.
According to the expose, Israel is one of three countries to whom ThyssenKrupp paid bribes to senior officials in order to win contacts to build surface vessels and submarines for their navies.
The other two countries are Greece and South Africa.
There is an ongoing police investigation into PM Netanyahu’s involvement in this affair. Last week former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon gave detailed evidence to the police. Following his evidence, the police announced that the preliminary investigation of this affair, called Case 3000 by the police, will turn into another full-blown investigation against the prime minister.
This investigation is now likely to be broadened and include allegations that several senior IDF officers and defense ministry officials also received payments from the German company.
According to a Channel 2 report, Ya’alon told police that Netanyahu was personally involved in attempts to bypass the defense ministry’s normal purchase requirements, including the publication of tenders to relevant companies.
“He managed the negotiations himself, over the heads of the pertinent ministry officials,” he said.
The affair broke several weeks ago, following an expose on David Shimron’s involvement in negotiations with ThyssenKrup, the German conglomerate that owns the shipyards that builds the submarines.
Shimron is Netanyahu’s long time personal lawyer, and was deeply involved in the negotiations to purchase three new submarines. He reportedly gave the German company an ultimatum that if they wanted to complete the deal, they must replace their long time representative in Israel, and appoint Michael (Miki) Ganor, a close personal friend of Shimron and Netanyahu as their representative in Israel.
The decision to purchase three new submarines now was controversial. The Navy opposed the idea, saying it currently has no need to acquire additional submarines, as all its six submarines are operational, and will only be at risk of becoming obsolete around 2025.
The Navy’s recommendation was to begin the process in 2020 to ensure that any new subs would include the latest technologies. Despite this, Netanyahu insisted negotiations with ThyssenKrupp continue.
Israel currently has six advanced German submarines that are capable of launching nuclear armed missiles, according to foreign media sources. The German government has paid for two of them, Israel for the rest.
Germany is not expected to foot the bill for any new submarines, and the Defense Ministry wanted to issue a tender to ensure a fair and competitive process. France, which also manufactures comparable submarines, had expressed an interest in responding to any tender the Defense Ministry issued.
The ministry hoped competition between the French and German shipyards would reduce the price of any new submarines, but Netanyahu overrode them, and acted to ensure ThyssenKrupp won the contract without having to go through a tender process.
New evidence unearthed by German newspaper Handelsblatt indicates that senior Israeli military and government officials received illegal payments from the German company that has supplied all six of the IDF’s submarines.
According to the expose, Israel is one of three countries to whom ThyssenKrupp paid bribes to senior officials in order to win contacts to build surface vessels and submarines for their navies.
The other two countries are Greece and South Africa.
There is an ongoing police investigation into PM Netanyahu’s involvement in this affair. Last week former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon gave detailed evidence to the police. Following his evidence, the police announced that the preliminary investigation of this affair, called Case 3000 by the police, will turn into another full-blown investigation against the prime minister.
This investigation is now likely to be broadened and include allegations that several senior IDF officers and defense ministry officials also received payments from the German company.
According to a Channel 2 report, Ya’alon told police that Netanyahu was personally involved in attempts to bypass the defense ministry’s normal purchase requirements, including the publication of tenders to relevant companies.
“He managed the negotiations himself, over the heads of the pertinent ministry officials,” he said.
The affair broke several weeks ago, following an expose on David Shimron’s involvement in negotiations with ThyssenKrup, the German conglomerate that owns the shipyards that builds the submarines.
Shimron is Netanyahu’s long time personal lawyer, and was deeply involved in the negotiations to purchase three new submarines. He reportedly gave the German company an ultimatum that if they wanted to complete the deal, they must replace their long time representative in Israel, and appoint Michael (Miki) Ganor, a close personal friend of Shimron and Netanyahu as their representative in Israel.
The decision to purchase three new submarines now was controversial. The Navy opposed the idea, saying it currently has no need to acquire additional submarines, as all its six submarines are operational, and will only be at risk of becoming obsolete around 2025.
The Navy’s recommendation was to begin the process in 2020 to ensure that any new subs would include the latest technologies. Despite this, Netanyahu insisted negotiations with ThyssenKrupp continue.
Israel currently has six advanced German submarines that are capable of launching nuclear armed missiles, according to foreign media sources. The German government has paid for two of them, Israel for the rest.
Germany is not expected to foot the bill for any new submarines, and the Defense Ministry wanted to issue a tender to ensure a fair and competitive process. France, which also manufactures comparable submarines, had expressed an interest in responding to any tender the Defense Ministry issued.
The ministry hoped competition between the French and German shipyards would reduce the price of any new submarines, but Netanyahu overrode them, and acted to ensure ThyssenKrupp won the contract without having to go through a tender process.
29 jan 2017
The prime minister's bureau released a statement and a timetable from 2013 to 2014, which it claims is backed up by the documentation; it says the purchase was made in accordance with Defense Ministry recommendations.
The prime minister's bureau published on Sunday night a response to what the police have termed Case 3000—the Submarine Affair—in which the timetable for the purchase of the seacraft is detailed.
A statement released along with the timeline read, "Contrary to claims that have been made, the purchase of four surface ships was carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the Navy and the Ministry of Defense itself. The Prime Minster and the Security Cabinet acted in accordance with the recommendations of the professional ranks."
According to Netanyahu, "This is the political-security timetable of the purchase of the surface ships, as documented in the National Security Council, which proves that. The timetable is backed up with the documents."
The timetable follows:
4/24/2013: The commander of the Navy recommends moving forward with purchasing the ships from Germany.
9/11/2013: The Ministry of Defense's director general instructs his ministry that if an agreement can be reached with Germany, there will be no need to open a request for tenders.
11/11/2013: The Ministry of Defense's director general emphasizes the benefits of purchasing from Germany for reasons of cash flow, cost and schedule.
November 2013: The Security Cabinet decides to purchase the ships and to prefer an agreement with Germany.
5/6/2014: The Germans withdraw from the discount proposal.
7/21/2014: The Ministry of Defense publishes an international request for tenders for the purchase of the ships. In the background, talks are held with Germany.
8/17/2014: In light of progress in the talks, the director general of the Ministry of Defense asks to freeze the tenders.
8/21/2014: Germany approves a discount at a rate of 27.5% with Minister of Finance Yair Lapid.
8/23/2014: German Chancellor Angela Merkel approves the summary to the prime minister.
9/20/2014: The Israeli Navy asks to stop the bidding and slow down the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU).
9/21/2014: The director general of the Ministry of Defense asks to stop the bidding in light of the developments.
10/27/2014: The minister of defense decides to stop the bidding.
December 2014: Israel and Germany sign an MOU for the purchase of the ships.
The prime minister's bureau published on Sunday night a response to what the police have termed Case 3000—the Submarine Affair—in which the timetable for the purchase of the seacraft is detailed.
A statement released along with the timeline read, "Contrary to claims that have been made, the purchase of four surface ships was carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the Navy and the Ministry of Defense itself. The Prime Minster and the Security Cabinet acted in accordance with the recommendations of the professional ranks."
According to Netanyahu, "This is the political-security timetable of the purchase of the surface ships, as documented in the National Security Council, which proves that. The timetable is backed up with the documents."
The timetable follows:
4/24/2013: The commander of the Navy recommends moving forward with purchasing the ships from Germany.
9/11/2013: The Ministry of Defense's director general instructs his ministry that if an agreement can be reached with Germany, there will be no need to open a request for tenders.
11/11/2013: The Ministry of Defense's director general emphasizes the benefits of purchasing from Germany for reasons of cash flow, cost and schedule.
November 2013: The Security Cabinet decides to purchase the ships and to prefer an agreement with Germany.
5/6/2014: The Germans withdraw from the discount proposal.
7/21/2014: The Ministry of Defense publishes an international request for tenders for the purchase of the ships. In the background, talks are held with Germany.
8/17/2014: In light of progress in the talks, the director general of the Ministry of Defense asks to freeze the tenders.
8/21/2014: Germany approves a discount at a rate of 27.5% with Minister of Finance Yair Lapid.
8/23/2014: German Chancellor Angela Merkel approves the summary to the prime minister.
9/20/2014: The Israeli Navy asks to stop the bidding and slow down the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU).
9/21/2014: The director general of the Ministry of Defense asks to stop the bidding in light of the developments.
10/27/2014: The minister of defense decides to stop the bidding.
December 2014: Israel and Germany sign an MOU for the purchase of the ships.
28 jan 2017
Channel 2 reports on former defense minister's statement to Israel Police; police sources say that the amount of material in the affair is vast, and the AG's approval is required to turn it into a full-fledged investigation.
Former defense minister Moshe Ya'alon has reportedly told police of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's direct involvement in the purchasing of submarines and the tender bias in favor of German conglomerate thyssenKrupp, Channel 2 reported on Saturday night.
In his testimony last week, Ya'alon told investigators of Netanyahu's efforts in canceling an international tender for the submarines and other naval vessels and altering it in favor of thyssenKrupp, whose representatives in Israel are the prime minister's personal lawyer David Shimron and Shimron's client, businessman Miki Ganor.
Ya'alon reportedly provided investigators with detailed information on the talks Netanyahu had with German government officials both for the purchase of three new submarines and for the purchase of anti-submarine warships for the Israeli Navy—without consulting the defense establishment.
Ynet was informed that Ya'alon's statement will obligate investigators to carry out a variety of other investigative actions, including gathering evidence from senior figures in the Ministry of Defense and the Navy regarding the manner in which decisions were taken to purchase the vessels.
The Prime Minister's Office said in response: "The prime minister acted with the accompaniment of (defense) professionals and based on (their instructions), and the tender was removed only after the German government gave Israel the discount that defense officials demanded."
Currently, the police are not intending to investigate Netanyahu in the matter, at least not until evidence has been gathered from the others involved and the attorney general has examined it. It will be on him to decide if the prime minister should then be investigated.
This case requires the police to carry out judicial inquiries abroad, principally in Germany, if the attorney general approves upgrading the preliminary investigation to a full-fledged one.
Sources in the police told Ynet that the case is spread over several years and includes tremendous amounts of material. Thus, it would be difficult to investigate it simultaneously with other suspicions currently being probed, adding that reaching the truth of the matter could take a long time.
On Friday, Netanyahu was questioned for the third time concerning suspicions he received illicit gifts from wealthy donors and concerning his alleged efforts to strike a deal with Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes concerning coverage about him.
Former defense minister Moshe Ya'alon has reportedly told police of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's direct involvement in the purchasing of submarines and the tender bias in favor of German conglomerate thyssenKrupp, Channel 2 reported on Saturday night.
In his testimony last week, Ya'alon told investigators of Netanyahu's efforts in canceling an international tender for the submarines and other naval vessels and altering it in favor of thyssenKrupp, whose representatives in Israel are the prime minister's personal lawyer David Shimron and Shimron's client, businessman Miki Ganor.
Ya'alon reportedly provided investigators with detailed information on the talks Netanyahu had with German government officials both for the purchase of three new submarines and for the purchase of anti-submarine warships for the Israeli Navy—without consulting the defense establishment.
Ynet was informed that Ya'alon's statement will obligate investigators to carry out a variety of other investigative actions, including gathering evidence from senior figures in the Ministry of Defense and the Navy regarding the manner in which decisions were taken to purchase the vessels.
The Prime Minister's Office said in response: "The prime minister acted with the accompaniment of (defense) professionals and based on (their instructions), and the tender was removed only after the German government gave Israel the discount that defense officials demanded."
Currently, the police are not intending to investigate Netanyahu in the matter, at least not until evidence has been gathered from the others involved and the attorney general has examined it. It will be on him to decide if the prime minister should then be investigated.
This case requires the police to carry out judicial inquiries abroad, principally in Germany, if the attorney general approves upgrading the preliminary investigation to a full-fledged one.
Sources in the police told Ynet that the case is spread over several years and includes tremendous amounts of material. Thus, it would be difficult to investigate it simultaneously with other suspicions currently being probed, adding that reaching the truth of the matter could take a long time.
On Friday, Netanyahu was questioned for the third time concerning suspicions he received illicit gifts from wealthy donors and concerning his alleged efforts to strike a deal with Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes concerning coverage about him.
Page: 2 - 1
