Even before the state commission of inquiry into the so-called "submarine affair" has ever convened, it's fair to say it was born in sin and its objective misses the mark.
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It was born in sin, because the motives of those responsible for the government's agenda, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and his colleague, Foreign Minister and Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid, are not innocent. More than half a year has passed since this government was established. The person who spearheaded the commission of inquiry, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, had asked them both countless times to form it, but was rebuffed.
Just last week, when the prospect of a plea deal between the former premier and the State Attorney's Office suddenly emerged, Lapid and Bennett remembered the submarines. They dusted off the Gantz's proposal (who, incidentally, doesn't really want a commission anymore, but that's a different story). In their panic, they tried forming the commission as early as last week, in contravention of protocols. When it became clear this was unfeasible, the decision was postponed until the next government meeting, this Sunday, January 23.
What startled Lapid and Bennett? Their goal, right now, is a propaganda campaign to upend Netanyahu – if he signs a plea deal, if his age and health allow, and if he wants to return to political life in three, five, or seven years. They are assuming the commission of inquiry will stain Netanyahu. They will use its findings to challenge him. This is the plan. Such is the level of sophistication and cynicism of the political machine these two political partners have contrived.
However, it's not just the motives behind this commission of inquiry that are askew, rather also the mandate it was given. Clause 2b of the government's resolution says the "commission will not investigate whether the conduct of those accused was criminal, and won't determine findings, conclusions or recommendations in their regard."
Leading us to our question: How is the commission supposed to faithfully do its job, if those who have the most knowledge of the submarine affair – the main witnesses in the trial, Miki Ganor, the local agent for Thyssenkrupp; Avriel Bar-Yosef, the former deputy head of the Israel National Security Council; and David Sharan, Netanyahu's former chief of staff – aren't summoned to appear before it? This, incidentally, is why Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit opposed the establishment of such a commission all these years. He first wanted to exhaust the legal proceedings.
Hence, the crux of the story won't be told. And it will be doubly lacking because there is indeed nothing to investigate, and not only regarding submarines. The very gray area of ex-defense establishment officials – from the IDF, Shin Bet, and Mossad – who use the ties they built throughout their careers of public service to advance their own private business interests immediately after they retire – is non-transparent and has not been under supervision since the inception of the state.
When it comes to business dealing such as these, a state commission of inquiry should indeed so some house cleaning. If politics wouldn't have spoiled the current commission – this would be a worthy mandate.
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