The government's vote on the establishment of a committee of inquiry into the submarine affair:
In a statement issued today (Sunday) by the Defense Minister ahead of the vote, it was stated that after Gantz consulted with Justice Minister Saar and Supreme Court President Judge Esther Hayut, an amendment was submitted to the committee. Its members are five instead of three.
"The Minister of Defense is interested in expanding the number of members in light of the expertise required in several aspects - in the legal aspect, in the aspect of procurement and security processes, and in the aspect of policy-making and government conduct," Gantz said.
"The defense minister also suggests that one of the delegates who will be added will serve as a 'public representative' in order to increase the public's trust in the committee's work."
Prime Minister Bennett is expected to abstain from voting on the establishment of a commission of inquiry into the submarine affair, which the government is expected to approve today.
According to Bennett, there is no need for the committee because it is supposed to examine actions taken by governments in the past, and because the deal to purchase the submarines has been signed anyway and Israel will accept them.
The Prime Minister believes that many commissions of inquiry are not helpful for future functioning.
However, he intends to hear "with an open mind", in the words of his people, the arguments for and against the establishment of the committee.
Bennett has raised the issue on the agenda due to pressure from his government partners, but he himself tends to avoid it.
Minister of Construction and Housing Zeev Elkin (New Hope) also tends to abstain, but will formulate his final position at the cabinet meeting.
On the other hand, his party colleagues, Justice Minister Gideon Saar and Communications Minister Yoaz Handel, will support the establishment of the committee.
In addition, most government ministers are expected to support the establishment of the committee, so it is expected to get under way.
Minister of the Interior and Minister of Construction and Housing.
Shaked is expected to resist, Elkin will abstain, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
The only minister who announced opposition to the establishment of the committee is Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked.
It should be noted that Bennett and Shaked are the only ones of all the ministers who were both at the cabinet meeting in 2016 and at the meetings in the last six months of the committee for equipping the submarines.
Defense Minister Bnei Gantz, who was one of the proponents of establishing the committee, held a zoom meeting last night with the Movement's Security Forum for the vote ahead of the vote to establish the committee, in which he rejected claims that the motive for establishing the committee was political: We need to keep security out of the political arena, certainly on strategic issues of this kind. "
He added: "My goal is to maintain national security, and for me the work of such a committee will achieve two things - it will bring the truth and the findings, and as a result it will be clear that we are not playing with security, and it will prove that we are a democratic country." He does not act out of personal motives, but as Minister of Defense out of a critical national need. "
Prior to the convening of the government, Economy Minister Orna Barbibai announced that she would support the establishment of the committee.
"The purchase of the submarines went like a heavy cloud over the defense system and the Israeli governments," the minister said.
"Only a state commission of inquiry will shed light on past decisions and any future procurement."
IDF Submarine (Archive). Defense Minister Ganz: "My goal is to preserve national security," Photo: Herzli Shapira
Meanwhile, Minister Handel intends to demand today at the cabinet meeting the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the lack of governance in the Negev and the Galilee.
He told Israel Today: "The real threat to Israel today is the lack of governance in the Negev, the Galilee and the cities involved. The main failure is how we arrived at a reality where there is autonomy in the country, ignoring governments over the past decade. That we will not reach such events in the future. "
At the same time, the government is expected to approve today a plan to plant 450,000 trees across the country over the next 20 years to tackle climate problems.
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