Police question Netanyahu in case involving close associates

Israeli police are taking testimony from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of an investigation into a conflict of interest case involving a $2 billion purchase of German submarines and some of the Israeli leader's closest associates.

Police were seen arriving at Netanyahu's official residence and later confirmed in a statement they questioned Netanyahu for several hours, in which he has not been named a suspect. It was the first time he was questioned in this specific case, they added.

Netanyahu was expected to be questioned as a suspect in a separate corruption case involving telecom giant Bezeq. Two Netanyahu confidants have been arrested on suspicion of promoting regulation worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the company.

Police later said investigators had questioned Netanyahu only over the submarine affair.