Netanyahu, Top Officials to Testify in Submarine Affair Probe

The State Commission of Inquiry into the Submarine Affair announced that the witness investigation phase will commence on November 1st. The closed-door hearings will focus on personal warnings and the evidentiary basis concerning those involved. Over November and December, the commission plans to hear testimony from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, former Mossad Director Yossi Cohen, former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, former President Reuven Rivlin, former Navy Commander Eliezer Marom, and former National Security Advisor Yaakov Nagel, among other senior security officials.

This phase follows the commission's February report to the government, which detailed systemic failures and serious shortcomings in decision-making processes related to security matters and offered recommendations for correction. The current stage aims to investigate the personal responsibility of those implicated.

Separately, Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the National Unity Party, and Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, met to discuss preparations for the upcoming elections. They agreed to focus on increasing voter turnout and urged support for parties likely to pass the electoral threshold, aiming to replace the current government on October 27th.

Democratic Party Chairman Yair Golan sharply criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu, calling him a "sick and weak leader" clinging to power and willing to endanger Israel's security for personal reasons. Golan argued Netanyahu has no legitimacy to drag Israel into another military campaign for political gain before elections and urged the IDF chief and security leaders to prevent the military from being used for political purposes.

Eisenkot also attacked Netanyahu, dismissing claims of destroying Iran's nuclear bombs as a "lie" and stating Iran never possessed nuclear weapons. He asserted Netanyahu is "unfit" and that while security vigilance is important, he does not identify any immediate threat requiring action, suggesting Netanyahu's statements indicate detachment and panic.