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| - Israel's defence chief Benny Gantz has established a government commission to probe the country's purchase of German submarines, an affair allegedly involving associates of premier Benjamin Netanyahu, his ministry announced. "Gantz has come to the conclusion that an investigative commission from the defence ministry could shine a light on parts of the process surrounding the purchase of these submarines," a statement by the defence ministry said. The commission will deliver its findings within four months, the statement said on Sunday, promising to deliver conclusions to the public in a "transparent fashion". The announcement comes amid resurgent tensions between Gantz and Prime Minister Netanyahu, who earlier this year put aside their intense rivalry to forge a coalition after repeated elections failed to yield a viable government. Israeli police suspect individuals in and outside the military of corruption in the purchase of the submarines from German industrial giant ThyssenKrupp for around $2 billion (1.6 billion euros). Among those allegedly implicated in the affair is a lawyer for the prime minister, David Shimron, who faces accusations of money laundering related to the purchase. The decision to establish the committee followed consultations led by the defence minister and "recent findings" by Gantz, the ministry's statement said. Gantz, who is also Israel's alternate prime minister, defended his decision on Monday in an interview with popular daily newspaper Yediot Ahronoth. "I have been in the government for six months, cooperating as best I can," he said. "But if I have to fight, I will". In March 2019, ahead of one of three elections in less than a year through to March 2020, Gantz had directly accused Netanyahu of receiving 16 million shekels ($4.8 million) in connection with the purchase of the submarines. Separately, Netanyahu in May became the only sitting head of government in Israel's history to face trial on corruption charges. The prime minister faces three charges, but the prosecutor general has said there is no case for a criminal trial against him over the submarines. Netanyahu's backers within his Likud party have accused Gantz of using the submarine affair for his own electoral ends. "Gantz's decision to create a commission in the submarine affair is a provocation against Likud," Miki Zohar, a close ally of the premier, said on Twitter, accusing the defence minister of a smear campaign and of dragging the country towards yet another election. dms/cgo/feb/par/dwo
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