Judge Asher Grunis Resigns as Submarine Affair Committee Chair

Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit appointed retired Supreme Court Justice Tzvi Zilberthal, who was already a member of the commission, as the new chairman. Amit also appointed retired Judge Ruth Lorch, former president of the Central District Court, as a new member of the commission. The remaining members, Professor Karnit Flug, Gideon Frank, and Brigadier General Professor Yaakov Bortman, will continue their service. Grunis will also need to find a replacement for his role heading the committee for senior civil service appointments.

The commission, established in February 2022, is investigating decision-making processes in multi-billion shekel defense procurement deals with the German firm ThyssenKrupp between 2009 and 2016. In June 2024, the commission issued warning notices to five individuals, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, and former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen. The commission recently summoned Netanyahu and other senior officials to testify, with Netanyahu scheduled to appear on December 7.