The media may be focused on the pricey cigars and bottles of champagne that the Netanyahu family allegedly amassed from its benefactors over the years, but the police investigation into the submarine procurement scandal is gaining momentum. The scandal, which Al-Monitor reported on at the end of October, is about to become a huge international imbroglio.
Recently, Knesset member Erel Margalit also dived into this quagmire. As a contender for leader of the Labor Party, he hopes to take over from Benjamin Netanyahu one day and become Israel’s next prime minister. Margalit is a multi-millionaire who made his money in the high-tech and cyber industry; his extensive contacts in that industry reach around the world. Several months ago, Margalit launched his own, private investigation into the submarine affair. For that, he traversed Europe, using his own sources. He returned home with a detailed report, which he submitted to Deputy Commissioner Roni Rittman, the commander of Lahav 433, the police unit tasked with investigating national crimes and corruption. “I took advantage of my contacts, I set my sources into action and I met with many people across Europe,” Margalit told Al-Monitor. “I believe that this is the biggest corruption scandal in all of Israel’s history.”
