Former National Security Adviser Yaakov Amidror spoke to Radio 103FM on Monday and commented on the call of the Yesh Atid-Telem party to launch a probe into the submarine affair.
Amidror explained why Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu allowed Egypt to buy submarines from Germany.
"If we did not permit the Germans to sell submarines to Egypt, they would have bought the same submarines from the French, Koreans or another country. We could not prevent the Egyptians from buying submarines. We preferred it to be in Germany, and the decision turned out to be correct."
Responding to the claim that Israel holds more submarines than it needs, he replied, "I came up with the submarine purchase and pushed the Prime Minister to do it. I have no doubt that Israel needs 9 submarines, and that is why Israel acted correctly. I am willing to testify before every commission of inquiry. There is no problem with this decision. If anyone cut a coupon along the way – let him go to jail."
Earlier on Monday, MK Ofer Shelah, head of the State Supervisory Committee, said in advance of Tuesday’s committee discussion that he plans to request that the State Comptroller launch an in-depth inquiry into what the submarine affair.
“There isn't just a suspicion of corruption here - it's also a question of dubious decision-making processes on sensitive security issues involving billions of shekels from Treasury coffers, which we will be discussing with senior security figures,” he said, adding, "We must not allow a situation to occur in which this affair sinks into the depths of political dispute.”
In November of 2018, the police published its recommendations following the conclusion of the investigation into the submarine affair. The recommendations stated that evidence was established for the prosecution of six senior officers who were interrogated in the affair.
Among the senior officials are Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's close associate and personal attorney David Shimron, Netanyahu’s former bureau chief David Sharan and former Navy commander Maj. Gen. (res.) Eliezer Marom.
Police have stressed that the Prime Minister is not suspected of any connection to the affair.