Top Netanyahu Aides Detained in Corruption Probe

The German-made INS Rahav, the fifth Israeli Navy submarine, arrives in Haifa. AFP file photo
The German-made INS Rahav, the fifth Israeli Navy submarine, arrives in Haifa. AFP file photo
TT
20

Top Netanyahu Aides Detained in Corruption Probe

The German-made INS Rahav, the fifth Israeli Navy submarine, arrives in Haifa. AFP file photo
The German-made INS Rahav, the fifth Israeli Navy submarine, arrives in Haifa. AFP file photo

Israeli police detained on Sunday two of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's top aides, his cousin and personal lawyer David Shimron and another senior lawyer who has worked with him for years, as part of a corruption probe on submarines, dubbed as "Case 3000".

Police sources revealed the arrest is an indication that the Prime Minister would be summoned for investigation, knowing that the Attorney General ruled out Netanyahu's involvement.

However, sources expected Netanyahu to be summoned for questioning upon his return from his diplomatic trip to Britain. They said this is the first time two people this close to Netanyahu had been arrested.

Shimron had been under house arrest for four weeks, and as the investigation continued, the attorney's partner in the law firm resigned suddenly from his position in Netanyahu's office.

Case 3000 is a police corruption investigation into Israel’s purchase of German-made naval vessels. Several politicians and military officials received bribery of tens of millions of dollars in exchange for pressuring the army to buy a submarine from German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp.

Once the investigation began, the German government froze the deal. Shortly after, Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit issued a memorandum confirming that Netanyahu is not linked to corruption in this case.

The German government later approved the deal and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) including a clause which allows Germany to back out of the deal if criminality is found in the behavior of senior decision makers or officials involved in the purchase of the submarines.

Eight senior officials including Shimron, former Navy Chief Major General Eliezer Marom, and Israeli businessman and state’s "king witness" Miki Ganor, have been so far detained.

It is said to be one of the biggest corruption cases in Israel's history including bribery, tax evasion, and money laundry.

Shimron denied he was to receive a cut from the deal beyond his legal fees and denied any relation with the German company.



European Powers May Restore UN Sanctions on Iran

FILED - 18 July 2024, United Kingdom, Woodstock: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy gives an interview at the European Political Community summit. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa
FILED - 18 July 2024, United Kingdom, Woodstock: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy gives an interview at the European Political Community summit. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa
TT
20

European Powers May Restore UN Sanctions on Iran

FILED - 18 July 2024, United Kingdom, Woodstock: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy gives an interview at the European Political Community summit. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa
FILED - 18 July 2024, United Kingdom, Woodstock: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy gives an interview at the European Political Community summit. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa

The European troika, known as the E3, may restore UN sanctions on Iran under the snapback mechanism, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on Tuesday, warning that the move could increase Tehran's suffering unless it takes a serious stance on stepping back from its nuclear program.

Speaking to the UK parliament’s foreign affairs select committee, Lammy said: “Iran faces even more pressure in the coming weeks because the E3 can snap back on our sanctions, and it’s not just our sanctions, it’s actually a UN mechanism that would impose dramatic sanctions on Iran across nearly every single front in its economy.”

“So they have a choice to make. It’s a choice for them to make. I’m very clear about the choice they should make, but I’m also clear that the UK has a decision to make that could lead to far greater pain for the Iranian regime unless they get serious about the international desire to see them step back from their nuclear ambitions,” he added.

Meanwhile, a French diplomatic source told Reuters on Tuesday that European powers would have to restore UN sanctions on Iran if there were no nuclear deal that guaranteed European security interests.

The source spoke after a call between French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Lammy ahead of a Franco-British summit.

Last Thursday, France threatened “retaliatory measures” against Tehran if it persisted with new charges against a French couple held in Iran, including accusations that they spied for Israel.

Snapback Mechanism

France, Britain and Germany - the E3 – are threatening to activate the snapback mechanism that would reinstate all United Nations Security Council sanctions previously levied on Iran.

According to diplomats, the E3 countries may trigger the snapback by August if no substantial deal can be found by then. The window closes on October 18.

UN resolution 2231 allows a State Party to the agreement to address a complaint to the Security Council about significant non-performance by another JCPOA participant.

Within 30 days of receiving such a notification, the UN Security Council shall vote on a draft resolution to either maintain the termination of previous sanctions or allow them to be reimposed.

European powers are considering triggering the snapback mechanism after Iran's decision to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).