Israel's submarine saga resurfaces, sending shockwaves through the political establishment. The state inquiry committee has fired warning shots at several high-profile figures, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Moshe "Bogie" Ya'alon.
The committee, diving deep into the murky waters of Israel's submarine procurement from Germany's ThyssenKrupp, has signaled that its findings could torpedo the reputations of those at the helm during the decision-making process.
Netanyahu, who has long maintained his innocence, now faces a storm of potential criticisms:
- Did he steer security decisions off course, bypassing proper procedures?
- Did he strike deals with Germany under the radar, leaving no paper trail or government footprint?
- And did he transform the National Security Council into a rogue vessel, charting a course contrary to the defense establishment's compass?
Ya'alon, who manned the Defense Ministry during the procurement's early stages, isn't in calmer waters. He could be on the hook for actions that allegedly went against the current of government decisions and for potentially muddying the waters with misleading information presented to the Supreme Court.
The committee's net has also caught other big fish: former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, ex-Navy Commander Ram Rothberg, and National Security Council employee Avner Simchoni all received warning letters.
This resurfacing of the submarine affair has reignited a political firestorm. Opposition leader Yair Lapid launched a torpedo of his own at Netanyahu, declaring, "Netanyahu is dangerous to Israel's security. This is true in the submarine affair, in the Mount Meron disaster, in all the conduct that led to and caused the October 7th massacre ... He is dangerous to the State of Israel, dangerous to its citizens, dangerous to the lives of the hostages, he is not fit to be the Prime Minister of Israel."
The submarine affair, a long-submerged controversy in Israeli politics, involves allegations of corruption and mismanagement that run deep. As the inquiry continues to plumb the depths of this complex issue, its findings could send ripples - or waves - through Israel's political landscape and national security apparatus.
The Israeli public now holds its breath, waiting for the final surfacing of conclusions that may well reshape the nation's perception of key political and security figures, and their roles in this turbulent chapter of Israeli history.