Netanyahu Cleared of Submarine Case Investigation by Prosecution

Israel’s prosecution has decided not to open a criminal investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s involvement in the controversial submarine case (Case 3000), despite warnings issued by the State Inquiry Committee. The decision came on Wednesday after months of deliberation, following a warning letter sent to Netanyahu in June concerning his role in the purchase of submarines and naval vessels.

The letter had stated that Netanyahu’s conduct disrupted sensitive decision-making processes, potentially endangering national security and harming Israel’s foreign relations. However, the Taxation and Economics Prosecution Office in Tel Aviv, represented by attorney Yaron Golomb, maintained its stance that the warning alone was insufficient to prompt a criminal investigation into the prime minister.

“There is nothing in the warning letter from the Inquiry Committee itself that would lead us to change our decision,” Golomb responded to requests for a criminal probe, which had been submitted by attorneys Yuval Yoaz and Avigdor Feldman from Israeli Democracy Watch. The watchdog group had argued that Netanyahu’s actions merited further scrutiny.

In their statement, Yoaz and Feldman criticized the decision, calling it “regrettable” and urging the Attorney General to investigate Netanyahu’s role in what they described as “the most serious corruption case in the country’s history.” They noted that the evidentiary threshold for opening an investigation requires only “reasonable suspicion”, which they believe exists in Netanyahu’s case.

The State Prosecution has been deliberating since June, following the State Inquiry Committee’s findings, which focused on whether the proper procedures were followed during the purchase of the submarines and whether the IDF and Defense Ministry provided adequate feedback in the decision-making process. The inquiry was not about direct corruption or bribery but rather about evaluating whether the submarine deal was in Israel's best interest.

Though the controversy continues to swirl around Netanyahu’s involvement, the prosecution’s decision brings an end to immediate calls for a criminal investigation into his actions related to the submarine purchases.

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