Benjamin Netanyahu Faces Probe for Bribery Claim in German Submarine Scandal

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By Marcy Oster December 29, 2016

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s attorney general reportedly will announce a criminal investigation into suspicion of bribery against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The country’s Justice Ministry on Thursday said it would issue an update about the case and announce the closure of others that are not supported by evidence.

Netanyahu reportedly will be summoned for questioning, according to Israeli reports.

The case reportedly involves money transferred to the prime minister by donors for his personal use, as well as reports that his personal attorney also represented a German company that sold submarines to Israel in a $1.5 billion deal.

“We cannot comment on the report for obvious reasons, as the examination is still ongoing,” the Justice Department and the Israel Police said in a joint statement. “This is neither confirmation or denial of what has been alleged. The attorney general, the police and prosecutors are working in close cooperation, and a public announcement will be made in due time about the investigation.”

Netanyahu has not addressed the accusations, except to say “Nothing will come out of it because there is nothing to it.”

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