Netanyahu Accused of Jeopardizing Israeli Agents in Submarine Deal Cover-Up

A dramatic meeting in September 2021 saw then-Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, initially hesitant about a state inquiry into the "Submarine Affair," change his stance after a private briefing from former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo. Pardo reportedly revealed classified information suggesting that former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had secretly approved the sale of submarines to Egypt by German firm ThyssenKrupp, while simultaneously directing Israeli security agencies, including the Mossad, to oppose the deal. This alleged deception put Israeli agents at risk and undermined national security, according to sources cited in the report.

The "Submarine Affair" involves the procurement of submarines and naval vessels, with allegations of bribery and conflicts of interest. A state commission of inquiry, established following a petition by the Movement for Quality of Government, later issued a severe warning to Netanyahu. The commission's findings, though preliminary, suggest Netanyahu actively worked against Israel's security interests by approving the Egyptian submarine deal in secret, while publicly appearing to oppose it and dispatching intelligence operatives to thwart it. This created a situation where Israeli agents were unknowingly working against their own Prime Minister's covert approval.

Sources indicate that Netanyahu approved the sale of submarines to Egypt twice, concealing this from Israel's security establishment. This alleged "firefighter arsonist" behavior, as one source described it, involved sending the Mossad to fight a deal he himself had sanctioned. The report highlights that Germany had linked its subsidy for an Israeli submarine to Israel's non-objection to the Egyptian deal. Netanyahu's actions, according to the report, damaged trust between Israel and Germany and created confusion within Israel's own security apparatus, which was left to fight a battle its leadership had already lost behind closed doors.

The commission's interim findings warned five individuals, including Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, and former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen. The report specifically states that Netanyahu "endangered the state's security and harmed Israel's foreign relations and economic interests." The commission criticized the "deep disruption of work processes and decision-making mechanisms on sensitive security and policy issues," noting that the submarine deal with Egypt was handled in "chaos" without proper coordination or oversight. The report contrasts the swiftness of the German-Egyptian submarine deals with the protracted and complex process of Israel acquiring its own submarines.

Legal counsel Eliad Shraga, chairman of the Movement for Quality of Government and author of the book "Corruption in the Depths," which details these events, stated that Pardo's testimony alone was enough reason for Netanyahu to be held accountable. The report also details how Netanyahu allegedly bypassed the Ministry of Defense and National Security Council, providing selective information and creating a false reality for his own security agencies. The commission's findings suggest a pattern of behavior where Netanyahu made critical decisions in secret, often without proper documentation or consultation, leading to significant diplomatic and security repercussions.