High-profile case10/25/2026

Grunis Steps Down From Submarine Affair Commission Due to His Health

Former Supreme Court President Asher Grunis has stepped down as chair of the state commission of inquiry into the submarine affair. Former Supreme Court Justice Zvi Zylbertal will head the commission, and former judge Ruth Lorch will join it as a new member.

Key facts

•The commission was established in January 2022
•Period under examination: 2009–2016
•The new chair — Zvi Zylbertal
•The new commission member — Ruth Lorch
•The hearings are expected to begin on November 1
•The date of the final report has not been published

Why the Commission Chair Was Replaced

Grunis informed the incumbent Supreme Court President, Yitzhak Amit, that due to medical circumstances he would be unable to participate in the commission’s hearings in the coming months. Because postponing the hearings would have impaired its work, he asked to end his tenure and appoint a new chair. Amit appointed Zvi Zylbertal, who has served on the commission since its establishment, to the position.

What the Commission Is Investigating

The state commission of inquiry was established in January 2022 to examine decisions by the political and professional echelons concerning the purchase of submarines and military vessels from Germany in 2009–2016. Unlike the criminal Case 3000, it is examining the decision-making processes and the actions of senior officeholders, rather than the criminal liability of the defendants. The commission examined tens of thousands of documents, heard 41 witnesses, and questioned 122 additional people.

Warnings to Five Officeholders

In June 2024, the commission sent warning notices to Benjamin Netanyahu, Moshe Ya’alon, Yossi Cohen, Ram Rothberg, and Avner Simchoni. The preliminary findings indicated serious flaws in decision-making, but they are not final: the recipients are entitled to respond, question witnesses, and present evidence. The personal responsibility of these five individuals is expected to be examined in the next stage of the commission’s work.

What Happens Next

The stage of hearing testimony concerning the personal warnings is expected to begin on November 1, and Netanyahu’s testimony is scheduled for December 7. The hearings are expected to take place behind closed doors. After they conclude, the commission is expected to prepare a final report, but the date for its submission has not yet been published.

What this means for you

The replacement of the chair does not in itself halt the investigation and, according to the source, is not expected to affect its continuity: Zylbertal is already familiar with the materials. For the public, the outcome of the commission’s work will be conclusions about how state bodies made strategic decisions on military procurement; the commission does not replace the criminal court and has not yet published final personal conclusions.

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