We are now in the 10 Days of Repentance, a period in which every Jew is called upon to do cheshbon hanefesh, an honest self-critical assessment of one’s life and actions accompanied by a commitment to acknowledge wrong-doing, to confess publicly that wrong-doing, to approach those harmed, to ask from them forgiveness, and to make the commitment not to repeat the wrong again.

This responsibility to be accountable and transparent for one’s actions applies to every Jew, and even more so to our people’s national and international leaders.

I was shocked to read this morning the letter and signatures below that was sent to the Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the Knesset of Israel, Yuli Edelstein, by 80 of the most prominent former military, intelligence, and security officials in Israel’s history. The letter outlines and condemns Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s damaging, deceitful, and self-serving actions, and highlights their implications for the strategic interests of the United States. It further reveals how the Prime Minister deceived the entire Israeli defense and security establishment, ultimately undermining both the military and nation itself with far-reaching implications for U.S. foreign and national policy.

The publication of this matter is likely to initiate an earthquake in the Israeli government and may lead to the fall of this government coalition altogether. It is up to Israel’s leaders to take this matter as seriously as it deserves. Israel is still a democracy, despite the effort of Netanyahu and his coalition partners to attack the foundations of Israel’s democratic traditions.

The letter ought to be read carefully by every Jew who loves Israel, despite its imperfections, and wishes for Israel to remain a democracy and Jewish state as stated in Israel’s Declaration of Independence and its many Basic Laws, as well as a beacon light of hope and faith to the nations of the world.

We Diaspora Jews cannot ignore what this letter reveals and it ought to be the impetus for us ohavei Medinat Yisrael (Lovers of the State of Israel) to call upon Israel’s leaders to do what is necessary to restore transparency and democracy to Israel’s government and national interest by causing this extremist and clearly corrupt government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fall and schedule new elections as soon as possible.

Here is a link to the letter that I am printing below in its entirety: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b-R7hqKuIszQNnI9WwB-B4a27821Vby_/view.

September 18, 2023

To: Mr. Yuli Edelstein – Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Knesset of Israel,

Re: Netanyahu’s deceit of the defense establishment and the Israel Defense Force (the “IDF”) and significant harm to the security of the State of Israel

1. We, the undersigned, who for decades have served the State of Israel and its governments from all sides of the political spectrum: in the defense establishment, the IDF, the Mossad, the Shin-Bet (Israel Security Agency), and the police, hold Benjamin Netanyahu responsible for leading acts aimed at harming the Israeli judicial system and the Supreme Court in a way that will nullify the independence of the Israeli judiciary and subordinate it to Netanyahu and his fellow politicians.

2. These actions—led and promoted by Netanyahu—are transforming the State of Israel from a democracy based on the principles of our Declaration of Independence to an autocracy that harms Israel’s national strength through the dismantling the IDF, its defense establishment, economy, financial stability, and risks the social fabric of the people and the State of Israel.

3. It is clear to us that the main motive for Netanyahu’s acts is his desire to stop the legal proceedings being conducted against him in the Israeli court on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, that were filed against him by the Attorney General that he himself chose and appointed to the position.

4. It is clear to us that his actions are intended to also enable him to cancel the State Commission of Inquiry headed by former Supreme Court President – Justice Asher Grunis, which is investigating the “submarines and marine vessels affair.”

5. In this affair, 51 affidavits signed under oath by former senior defense officials, including defense ministers, chiefs of staff, directors at the Ministry of Defense, heads of Mossad and Shin Bet, naval commanders, and more, were submitted to the Supreme Court. These affidavits call for an inquiry into the serious allegations against Netanyahu for fraud, concealment of critical security information, conduct in conflicts of interest in favor of foreign parties, and more – all in large-scale procurement deals from Thyssen Krupp in Germany worth billions of dollars for the IDF and the defense establishment of Israel. Criminal trials are also underway regarding some of those already indicted in Case 3000 in Israeli court. Several of the accused are from Netanyahu’s office and others have close relations to him.

6. At this stage, the court and the State Commission of Inquiry are continuing their handling of Netanyahu’s trial, the submarine and naval affairs inquiry, and Case 3000, which also involves members of Netanyahu’s family. His cousin and personal lawyer, Adv. David Shimron, was also engaged as legal advisor to the agent of the German Manufacturer of the submarines and the other vessels in Israel, Thyssen Krupp. His American cousin Nathan Milikowsky, who passed away in 2021, had a significant interest in the U.S. public company GrafTech which Thyssen Krupp was one of its significant clients. Milikowsky testified to the Israeli Police that he transferred envelopes of cash to Netanyahu over a number of years and which Netanyahu did not report as required to the appropriate authorities. In 2009 David Shimron – Netanyahu’s personal lawyer notified authorities in Israel that Milikowsky sold to him in 2007 an indirect equity  interest in SeaDrift – a US company controlled by Milikowsky and his family, reportedly for $600,000. At the same time when Netanyahu bought this equity stake, Milikowsky negotiated and then later consummated) the sale of about 19% of SeaDrift to the American public company GrafTech. The price in which Netanyahu bought the shares reflected a significant discount compared to the market sale price of the SeaDrift shares to GrafTech. This created an immediate benefit of many millions of US$ to Netanyahu. Again, Netanyahu did not report or disclose, as required, this significant benefit.

7. In at least one of the cases, the allegations are exceptionally grave and are abundantly supported by evidence. The facts are clear to all, including being substantiated by Netanyahu’s own public statements and acknowledgement of the facts of the allegations against him. This case, for which there is no need to wait for conclusions by State Commission of Inquiry or the court, is that case known as the “Egyptian Submarines Affair”.

8. The Egyptian Submarines Affair:

a. The signed Affidavits filed to the Supreme Court by former senior defense officials detailed allegations as follows.

b. In 2014, the German government requested the Israeli government’s approval for the sale of two advanced submarines to be manufactured by ThyssenKrupp to Egypt.

The approval was required in accordance with existing understanding between the governments of Germany and Israel. Internal discussions and risk analysis in Israel between senior defense officials, including the defense minister, the chief of staff, the commander of the navy, the head of the Mossad, and Netanyahu as prime minister, concluded unanimously that it was essential to refuse the German government request since these submarines have weapon systems, a  performance envelope, advantages, and qualities that could pose a serious threat to the IDF and the State of Israel.

c. Accordingly, the Government of Israel, through Netanyahu personally, and the Ministry of Defense, through Defense Minister Ya’alon, formally informed the German government of Israel’s opposition to the sale of advanced German submarines to Egypt.

d. However, despite having taken this decision and formally informed the German Government of the refusal to permit the sale of the submarines to Egypt, in March 2015, the Israeli Ministry of Defense was informed by German sources that Netanyahu (secretly and behind the back of the defense establishment) had authorized the Germans to sell two advanced submarines to Egypt. Defense Minister Ya’alon checked this information with Netanyahu, who denied it.

e. In May 2015, Israel President Reuven Rivlin met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Germany. During their meeting, President Rivlin sought to ensure if and who approved a sale of advanced submarines by Germany to Egypt.

f. President Rivlin was shocked to hear from Chancellor Merkel that Netanyahu had personally and in secret authorized the German government to sell Egypt two advanced submarines to be manufactured by ThyssenKrupp, President Rivlin immediately reported what he had heard from Chancellor Merkel to Israeli defense officials and to Netanyahu. Netanyahu continued to deny this claim.

g. In March 2019, Netanyahu confirmed for the first time in a live television interview in Israel with reporter Keren Marciano that he had acted behind the back of the defense establishment and concealed from senior officials, including the defense minister, the chief of staff, the head of the Mossad and others, that he had granted approval to Germany to build these two advanced submarines for Egypt, in complete contradiction to the strategic decision made formally in Israel.

h. Netanyahu claimed that his deception of the defense establishment stemmed from the existence of a “security secret” that he was prevented from sharing with senior defense officials, but that he had consulted and shared this “security secret” with Dr. Mandelblit – Israel Attorney General, and Professor Yaakov Nagel – Acting Head of the National Security Council and Major General (Ret.) Yaakov Amidror at the prime minister office. All three denied knowledge of, or receipt of any such “security secret”.

i. In an interview on the TV program “UVDA” (“Fact”) Channel 12 in Israel in February 2023, Dr. Mandelblit explicitly stated that Netanyahu did not consult him about any “security secret” that supposedly prevented the defense minister, the chief of staff and the head of the Mossad from knowing of the approval he gave to the German government in secret to sell advanced submarines to Egypt. Dr. Mandelblit explicitly noted that he has learned over the years about other lies on Netanyahu’s part.

9. We—as former senior defense officials and signors of this letter—know with complete certainty that there is no, and has never been a legitimate defense secret that any Israeli prime minister was prevented from sharing with the defense minister, the chief of staff and the head of the Mossad. On the contrary, the defense establishment and the IDF are responsible for maintaining the security of the State of Israel, and it is inconceivable that a prime minister would conceal such critical defense information from these defense leaders. We therefore believe that Netanyahu likely had other personal reasons in granting this approval to the German government and concealing this decision of his from the defense establishment.

10. We conclude that Netanyahu’s destructive conduct against the State of Israel and the defense establishment stems from his own personal considerations, from concern over the very significant charges and accusations against him, and from his acknowledged deception of the entire security and defense establishment. The conclusion raises major concerns and the suspicion that he acted and will continue to act in ways which prioritize his own personal interest, and that these personal interests are affecting and will continue to affect his behavior and decision making in a critical defense and foreign affair matter, especially with regards to the potential agreement with Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu’s conduct and the manner in which he makes decisions, could cause significant damage to the national security of Israel and also to the national security of Israel’s close ally – the USA.

11. We, who served the State of Israel and its defense for decades, many of us risking our lives for it, would have found it extremely difficult to serve a single day in the defense establishment and the IDF under a prime minister who stands accused of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, and who deceived its defense establishment. Netanyahu has successfully done, what none of Israel enemies succeeded to do – to cause over ten thousand active reservist officers and commanders of IDF elite units and special forces and hundreds of Israeli air force pilots (who were always the spearhead volunteers of the IDF), to announce their resignation from active reserve service because of his destructive conduct. In doing so he compromised the national security of Israel and endangers our nation.

12. We represent the entire political spectrum of Israel society who served in Israel Defense force, and we will do everything in our power to prevent Netanyahu from dismantling the State of Israel, its defense establishment, the IDF, the judicial system and the Supreme Court – which are the main pillars on which the State of Israel and its democracy exist.

13. As Chair of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee – it is your duty by law to oversee the conduct of the Government and its prime minister on such critical issues related to the national security of Israel and its future.

CC: Mr. Yair Lapid – Head of the Knesset Opposition

Adv. Gali Baharav-Miara – Attorney General of Israel

We hereby sign:

1. Lt. General (Ret.) Moshe (Bogie) Ya’alon – Former Defense Minister & Chief of Staff

2. Mr. Tamir Pardo – Former Director of the Mossad

3. Lt. General (Ret.) Dan Haloutz – Former Chief of Staff

4. Major General (Ret.) Dan Harel – Former Director General of the M.O.D.

5. Major General (Ret.) Amos Gilad – Former Head of the Political-Defense Division of the M.O.D.

6. Mr. Carmi Gilon – Former Director of the Shin Bet

7. Lt. General (Ret.) Ehud Barak – Former Prime Minister, Defense Minister & Chief of Staff

8. Mr. Efraim Halevy – Former Director of the Mossad

9. Mr. Uzi Arad – Former Head of the National Security Council

10. Colonel (Ret.) Ahaz Ben Ari – Former legal advisor to the M.O.D.

11. Commissioner (Ret.) Rafi Peled – Former Chief Commissioner of Israel Police

12. Commissioner (Ret.) Assaf Hefetz – Former Chief Commissioner of Israel Police

13. Major General (Ret.) Danny Yatom – Former Director of the Mossad

14. Mr. Ilan Mizrahi – Former Head of the National Security Council

15. Major General (Ret.) Ilan Biran – Former Director General of the M.O.D.

16. Major General (Ret.) Amos Yaron – Former Director General of the M.O.D.

17. Major General (Ret.) Udi Shani – Former Director General of the M.O.D.

18. Major General (Ret.) Udi Adam – Former Director General of the M.O.D.

19. Major General (Ret.) Matan Vilnai – Former Deputy Chief of Staff

20. Major General (Ret.) Menachem Einan – Former Head of IDF Planning Directorate

21. Major General (Ret.) Amram Mitzna – Former Commander of the Central Command

22. Major General (Ret.) Uri Sagi – Former Head of Intelligence Corp

23. Major General (Ret.) Moshe Evri-Soknik – Former Commander of the Land Arm

24. Major General (Ret.) Alex Tal – Former Navy Commander

25. Major General (Ret.) David Ben-Besht – Former Navy Commander

26. Major General (Ret.) Yusef Mishleb – Former Commander of the Homeland Front Command

27. Major General (Ret.) Danny Rothschild – Former Coordinator of Government operations in Judea and Samaria

28. Major General (Ret.) Yair Golan – Former Deputy Chief of Staff

29. Major General (Ret.) Ran Goren – Former Head of IDF Personnel Directorate

30. Major General (Ret.) Aharon Ze’evi-Farkash – Former Head of Intelligence Corp

31. Major General (Ret.) Gadi Shamni – Former Commander of the Central Command

32. Major General (Ret.) Nimrod Sheffer – Former Head of IDF Planning Directorate

33. Major General (Ret.) Eyal Ben Reuven – Former Commander of the IDF College

34. Major General (Ret.) Guy Tzur – Former Commander of the Land Arm

35. Major General (Ret.) Israel Ziv – Former Head of the Operations Directorate

36. Major General (Ret.) Uzi Moskowitz – Former Head of Computer Service Directorate

37. Brigadier General (Ret.) Amnon Sofrin – Former Division Director in the Mossad

38. Mr. Moshe Friedman – Chairman of the IDF Workers’ Organization

39. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Yair Yitzhaki – Former Commander of the Southern District and Jerusalem District

40. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Yitzhak (Jack) Dadon – Former Israel Police attaché to USA and Canada

41. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Yossi Sedbon – Former Commander of Tel Aviv District

42. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Zohar Dvir – Former Deputy Commissioner

43. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Yaakov Raz – Former Commander of National Traffic Police

44. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Dudu Mantzur – Former Commander of Lahav 433

45. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Gabi Last – Former Deputy Commissioner

46. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Yaron Be’eri – Former Commander of National Traffic Police

47. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Herzl Yossov – Former Head of Planning Directorate

48. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Boaz Gilad – Former Head of Logistics Directorate

49. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Dan Ronen – Former Commander of the Northern District

50. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Uzi Rozen – Former Head of Community and Civil Guard Directorate

51. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Avi Tiller – Former Head of Personnel Directorate

52. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Berti Ohayon – Former Head of Operations Directorate

53. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Avi Ben Hamo – Former Commander of National Traffic Police

54. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Danny Brinker – Former Deputy Commissioner

55. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Zeev Even-Hen – Former Commander of the Central District

56. Mr. Itzik Barzily – Former Assistant to Head of the Mossad

57. Mr. Haim Tomer – Former Division Director in the Mossad

58. Mr. Eli Yarkoni – Former Division Director in the Mossad

59. Mr. Hagay Golan – Former Division Director in the Mossad

60. Mr. Koby Avraham – Former Division Director in the Mossad

61. Mr. Boaz Gorodissky – Former Division Director in the Mossad

62. Mr. Hagai Hadas – Former Division Director in the Mossad

63. Mr. Hagai Itkin – Former Division Director in the Mossad

64. Mr. Elie Gamzon – Former Division Director in the Mossad

65. Mr. Aharon Scherf – Former Division Director in the Mossad

66. Mr. Eyal Melamed – Former Division Director in the Mossad

67. Mr. Uri Chen – Former Division Director in the Mossad

68. Mr. Amichai Erez – Former Division Director in the Mossad

69. Mr. Rolly Gueron – Former Division Director in the Mossad

70. Mr. Yitzhak Tzaddik – Former Division Director in the Mossad

71. Mr. Yehiam Mart – Former Division Director in the Mossad

72. Mr. Haim Kenig – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet

73. Mr. Tal Shaul – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet

74. Mr. Arie (Leibo) Livne – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet

75. Mr. Manachem Landau – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet

76. Mr. Hezi Kalo – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet

77. Mr. Nir Hefetz – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet

78. Mr. Hagai Avimor – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet

79. Mr. Ron Shamir – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet

80. Mr. Moti Meital – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet

81. Mr. Israel Bartov – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet

82. Mr. Haim Robovitch – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet