Defense minister says commission of inquiry into massive graft scandal that has ensnared several Netanyahu associates will look into PM's office role in buying naval vessels

Defense minister's office confirms potential probe into massive corruption scandal that implicated several Netanyahu associates, but not PM

Reports link decision by Eli Assayag to his being skipped over for promotion in recent round of police appointments

Coalition whip says Likud acted 'correctly and honestly' in retroactively canceling Knesset decision to form parliamentary inquiry into corruption case linked to associates of PM

Lapid accuses Netanyahu's allies of eroding democracy after parliament speaker overturns vote that approved inquiry; Meretz head, good governance group vow to petition top court

Responding to petitions against decision to close cases, justice officials say evidence does not support opening of criminal investigations into the affairs

Mandelblit says police, prosecutors believe evidence doesn't justify opening probe into PM's selling of shares to cousin, particularly as statute of limitations has expired

Move comes after testimony was leaked from petition demanding investigation of Netanyahu; Gantz says mulling internal probe, angering Likud

Ahaz Ben-Ari, the Defense Ministry's former legal adviser, alleges he was pressured to nix tender for ships so contract would instead go to German firm who PM's cousin lobbied for

Several of PM's confidants are suspects in Case 3000; attorney general set to respond Thursday to petitions for Netanyahu to be probed too