Israeli cops nab seven over graft

Jerusalem – Israeli police have arrested seven people this week over an alleged corruption scandal involving a submarine deal with Germany, which reportedly involves people close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“As part of the ongoing investigation being carried out by the national crimes and investigation unit this morning another suspect was arrested and is being questioned,” police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld said yesterday.

Yesterday’s arrest comes a day after six other Israelis were taken in for questioning on suspicion of offences including bribery and money laundering over a deal to buy Dolphin submarines from Germany’s ThyssenKrupp.

Three were released to home arrest, while three others were remanded.

Police named the three remanded as Avriel Bar Yosef, former deputy head of Israel’s National Security Council; Micky Ganor, the local representative for ThyssenKrupp; and Ronen Shemer, a lawyer employed by Ganor.

Media reports have alleged a conflict of interest over the role played by David Shimron, a relative of the prime minister and the Netanyahu family lawyer who also represents ThyssenKrupp in Israel.