Police investigators arrived today at the home of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who was scheduled to be interrogated regarding two open cases for which he is suspected of having orchestrated foul play.

This was the fifth time Netanyahu has been interrogated, but the first time since Ari Harow, his former chief of staff, signed on to become a state witness. It is reported the interrogation lasted more  than 4 hours.

Police have previously questioned Netanyahu over allegations that he received gifts from Hollywood and business figures. A separate probe is looking into secret talks with the publisher of the Yediot Achronot newspaper in which Netanyahu allegedly requested positive coverage in exchange for reining in the free pro-Netanyahu daily paper Israel Hayom. These cases are referred to as 1000 and 2000.

The prime minister was also questioned regarding Case 3000, the Israel Navy’s order of German-manufactured submarines. In the case of the latter, he is simply providing information but not viewed as a suspect in the case.

For the past four days, two people close to Netanyahu have been interrogated by police regarding their involvement the submarine deal. The men are attorney David Shimron, a cousin and personal lawyer for the Prime Minister, and Attorney Yitzchak Molcho, who has acted as a personal messenger for the Prime Minister for issues that require secrecy.

Shimron represented Miki Ganur, a representative of the German conglomorate ThyssenKrupp, and is suspected of pushing the controversial $2.3 billion submarine deal through the Defense Ministry. Had the deal gone through, Shimron would have stood to make millions. Ganur has agreed to testify for the prosecution.

Molcho stated that in a meeting between the two men three days ago, the subject of the submarines did not come up. Police are attributing charges of fraud and breach of trust to Molcho for not having divulged that his involvement in the office’s operations was on behalf of the German conglomerate in trying to close the deal with Israel.

Netanyahu has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and called the accusations against him a witch hunt orchestrated by a hostile media. The scandal has yet to threaten his lengthy rule, but has harmed his public approval ratings.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)