A deal to supply three German submarines to the Israeli navy over the next 20 years is currently in jeopardy due to an investigation in to the decision-making behind the deal.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's personal attorney, David Shimron also worked for the Israeli representative of the German shipyard.

Attorney-General Avichai Mendelblitt ordered a police probe into the deal last week.

His decision came following allegations that Mr Shimron, who has been Mr Netanyahu's lawyer for many years, had somehow used his close relationship with the Prime Minister to push the deal, as well as other naval contracts.

His lawyer, Yaacov Weinroth, went on television last Saturday to claim that while Mr Shimron had been paid 715,000 NIS (£150,000) over five years to represent Mickey Ganor, the representative of the German corporation Thyssenkrupp in Israel, he had not directly profited from the submarine deal.

German media have reported that the German corporation may be forced to cancel the deal if it emerges there was any mispropriety involved.