Submarine Scandal: Attorney David Shimron, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s attorney, cousin and confidant, was faced with state witness Miki Ganor in a police confrontation over the Submarine Affair, during which Ganor claimed PM’s lawyer, Shimron, did not conduct himself as an attorney but rather as a lobbyist promoting a deal in order to profit from it.
“You held meetings with me and with others to promote the deal. You were supposed to get 20 percent from its earnings,” the state witness accused Shimron.
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Unmoved, Shimron denied the allegation. “That’s not true, there was no such agreement,” he retorted.
The Submarine Affair alleges that senior Israeli military and government officials received illegal payments from the German ThyssenKrupp company, which supplied all six of the IDF’s submarines, intended to sway tenders to build surface vessels and submarines for the Israeli Navy in the company’s favor.
The confrontation between Ganor and Shimron, who was the former’s attorney in the past, lasted several hours and was said to have been reserved.
After signing a state witness agreement, Ganor told his interrogators how significant his relationship with Shimron was. “You held more and more meetings, such as one instance of meeting the German ambassador in (Chef) Haim Cohen’s Yaffo Tel Aviv restaurant. We spoke about promoting the deal there,” Ganor said.
Shimron did not deny the meeting took place, but replied, “We promoted no deal.”
“You promised to promote the deal with the Germans for me. You stood to gain from it,” Ganor claimed. Shimron denied this allegation as well.
Ganor continued alleging Shimron worked to promote the deal as the prime minister’s confidant. “You were supposed to solve any problems that may crop up. We’ve held several meetings in Jerusalem with different people. It wasn’t in your position as an attorney. It was in order to promote the deal,” he asserted.
Ganor was also confronted with attorney Isaac Molcho, albeit a shorter, more minor meeting, in which the prime minister’s associate confirmed meeting Ganor several times when he arrived to Shimron’s offices. “Molcho was supposed to do the work with the Germans,” Ganor claimed.
Attorneys Shimron and Molcho were once again called in for interrogation by the police for several hours Monday, their third this week.
Molho’s name was cleared for publication Tuesday, 48 hours after he was initially detained for questioning. Molcho (72) is Shimron’s partner and the two are considered Netanyahu’s closest advisors and confidants.
The relationship between the three dates back decades. Molcho is part of a prominent Jerusalem family and knew the prime minister since the latter was a child. After the Six Day War, Molcho married Shlomit Shimron, daughter to major attorney Erwin Shimron and sister to his later partner David.
News broke recently of Molcho resigning from his position as the prime minister’s envoy. Sources in the police presumed this move was related to Molcho suspecting the investigation may reach him eventually.
Molcho recently resigned from his position as the PM’s envoy, allegedly due to anticipating the investigation will reach him (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
Molho recently resigned from his position as the PM’s envoy, allegedly due to anticipating the investigation will reach him (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
“It is our estimate he understood he could no longer serve in the role,” said law enforcement officials.
Despite not receiving any remuneration for his years as Netanyahu’s envoy, due to the position’s nature police perceive Molcho to be a public servant for all intents and purposes, and suspect him of breach of trust offenses.
By Ynet News
