Mr. Netanyahu, one of Israel’s longest serving prime ministers who is now serving a fourth term in office, faces allegations of a possible conflict of interest within his inner circle in making the deal. But Israeli commentators have focused on the role of Mr. Shimron, Mr. Netanyahu’s lawyer. A statement issued by the prime minister’s office on Thursday said that Mr. Shimron had never discussed submarines with Mr. Netanyahu. The first Mr. Netanyahu knew of Mr. Shimron representing the businessman linked to the naval project, it said, was when Channel 10 asked for a response to its report. Yair Lapid, the leader of a centrist opposition party, said that if Mr. Netanyahu did not know, he should have.

Source: New York Times November 20, 2016 17:43 UTC