Following the request, Amit signed a new appointment letter naming Zilbertal, who had served as a member of the commission, to chair it. At the same time, retired Senior Justice Ruth Lorech, former president of the Central District Court in Lod, was appointed as a member of the commission.
The change comes as the commission examines one of the most significant security and public affairs cases investigated in Israel in recent years. The state commission of inquiry was established in 2022 to examine the decision-making processes in the procurement of submarines and naval vessels between 2009 and 2016, including the conduct of the political and security echelons.
As part of its work, the commission sent warning letters to five figures, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, former Navy commander Ram Rotberg, former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, and former Defense Ministry official Avner Shimchoni.
It is important to distinguish between the commission's work and the criminal proceedings in the submarine affair, known as Case 3000. While the criminal case deals with charges against those involved in the procurement deals, the commission examines the decision-making processes and the conduct of the political and security echelons. Netanyahu is not a defendant or suspect in the criminal case, but received a warning letter as part of the commission's work.
The affair also involved attorney David Shimron, Netanyahu's cousin and lawyer, who represented Miki Ganor, the Israeli representative of ThyssenKrupp. Shimron was questioned in the affair, but the criminal case against him was closed and he was not indicted.
