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 by Staff Writers Jerusalem (AFP) June 12, 2018
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was on Tuesday questioned as a police witness in a probe of alleged corruption over the state purchase of three German submarines, his office said. Netanyahu is the subject of several corruption investigations, but he is not under suspicion in the submarine affair, known as Case 3000. "The prime minister gave his testimony in Case 3000. He has given all the details that led to his professional decisions on the matter of the submarines, while explaining their importance for state security," his office said in a statement. The statement said Netanyahu was delighted to "put an end once and for all to false claims spread by politicians" that he acted improperly in the affair. It is the first time Netanyahu has given oral evidence on the matter, and he reportedly spent several hours answering questions. The case centres on alleged corruption surrounding Germany's sale to Israel of three submarines manufactured by industrial giant ThyssenKrupp. Two associates of the prime minister have been questioned several times in the past few months by police heading the investigation. The German submarines ordered by Israel could be equipped with nuclear missiles and deployed for spying missions off the coast of Iran, where they could be used in the event of a war between the two countries, according to foreign military experts. Separately, Netanyahu is the subject of two investigations in which the police on February 13 recommended he be indicted. In one case, he and family members are suspected of receiving one million shekels ($285,000, 240,000 euros) worth of luxury cigars, champagne and jewellery from wealthy personalities in exchange for financial or personal favours. In the other case, investigators suspect the premier of trying to reach an agreement with the owner of Yediot Aharonot, a top Israeli newspaper, for more favourable coverage. Netanyahu has protested his innocence and vowed to remain in power, saying he is the victim of a "witch-hunt". He also faces suspicions of government favours that allegedly saw regulatory breaks go to Israel's largest telecom firm Bezeq, in return for favourable coverage of him and his wife by a news website. Despite his troubles, opinion polls indicate Netanyahu and his right-wing Likud party would still be the largest party if elections scheduled for November 2019 were held now.
Netanyahu congratulates Trump on North Korea summit "I commend US President Donald Trump on the historic summit in Singapore," Netanyahu said in a statement. "This is an important step in the effort to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons." The Israeli leader said Trump had "also taken a strong stand against Iran's efforts to arm itself with nuclear weapons and against its aggression in the Middle East. "This is already affecting the Iranian economy," he added. The United States withdrew last month from the Iran nuclear deal reached between world powers and the Islamic republic in 2015. The other parties to the deal -- Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia -- have vowed to stay in the accord, but appear powerless to stop their companies pulling out of Iran for fear of US penalties. Iran insists its nuclear programme is for civilian uses only, but its opponents, notably the US and Israel, accuse it of seeking to build an atomic bomb. The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly said that Iran is complying with the accord.
Tariffs not denting military relations with US allies: Mattis Washington (AFP) June 11, 2018 Ongoing tensions between America and its closest allies over tariffs and other issues have not soured military-to-military relationships, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Monday. President Donald Trump has recently blasted several nations, including Canada, over what he has called unfair tariffs on US goods. Trump refused to sign a joint statement over the weekend endorsing global trade rules, and accused Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of dishonesty. But Mattis said defense minis ... read more
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