Zionist Union activists place installation of submarine at Habima Square
The party's field activists claim the act was in protest over Netanyahu's involvement in Case 3000, investigation into acquisition of submarines from Germany; "The country is sinking along with Bibi," read one of the banners attached to the installation.
"The country is sinking along with Bibi,” was written on one of the banners attached to the submarine, measured at nine metres long, alongside an Israeli flag.
"Those passing by the square were reminded of the serious corruption affair in which the main suspects are key Netanyahu associates," the Zionist Union party said in an official statement.
Alon Visser, head of the party’s field offices, addressed the situation, saying the current government is on its last legs.
"The fall of the Netanyahu government is closer than ever. We arrived here today to wake up the citizens of Israel, so they will see the scope and the depth of the corruption level that had been uncovered during the submarine affair,” he stressed.
Zionist Union Chairman Avi Gabbay expressed his support over the incident via his official Twitter account, adding the party’s field activists are "100% correct."
“The police conclusions indicate that Netanyahu is either a failed leader, or a corrupt politician. There is no third option … Time for action,” Gabbay stated, referring to one of the signs attached to the installation.
On Thursday, the Israel Police announced there is sufficient evidence to indict six suspects in Case 3000.
The six suspects include former senior IDF officers and close associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: attorney David Shimron, the prime minister's personal lawyer and his relative; former deputy National Security Advisor Brig. Gen. (res.) Avriel Bar Yosef; former Navy commander Maj. Gen. (res.) Eliezer Marom; former minister and current chairman of the Keren Hayesod, Eliezer Sandberg; former PMO bureau chief David Sharan; and Brig. Gen. (res.) Shai Brosh.
Following the police announcement, attorney David Shimron said he wasn't "happy, but I'm also not concerned. At the end of the day, it's not the police, but the prosecution that decides (whether to indict). Since I didn't commit any offense, I believe this case will eventually be closed."
In Case 3000, the police investigated the purchase of three submarines and four patrol boats for the Israeli Navy from German conglomerate ThyssenKrupp.
Investigators questioned a series of public servants, businesspeople and senior politicians and army officers on suspicions of bribe, fraud and breach of trust and money laundering, among other offenses committed between the years 2009-2017.
In addition, on Thursday morning a statue of Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev resembling Snow White was placed in the same spot at Habima Square.
The statue depicts Regev dressed in a white dress, standing in front of a large mirror next to a sign reading "At the Heart of the Nation."
The man responsible for the creation, artist Itay Zelit, was also behind the golden statue of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which was put up at Rabin square in Tel Aviv in 2016 and taken down several hours later.
In reference to Regev's statue, the artist explained that "If one can do, one does. I let people think about the meaning of my work. Some people get angry, some identify with it. My work is displayed in a public area and everyone has the right to an opinion. "
