Israeli PM’s confidant quits on backdrop of submarine graft scandal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's personal envoy and confidant has resigned on the backdrop of ties to a submarine graft scandal in which Netanyahu is implicated.

"I respectfully request that you discharge me from my position as emissary and special diplomatic adviser to the premier," wrote Yitzhak Molcho in a letter to the Israeli prime minister on Wednesday.

Molcho served in the said positions during Netanyahu's first term as prime minister from 1996 to 1999 and then again since 2009.

He also headed negotiations with Palestinians, and was Bibi’s envoy during talks with neighboring Arab countries Jordan and Egypt. At the time, lawmakers censured his actions as he only answered to Netanyahu and was not accountable for official parliamentary checks.

Molcho is also partner in a law firm with David Shimron (seen below), Netanyahu's attorney and cousin, who is subject to a graft probe involving the purchase of submarines from Germany.

Earlier in the year, a High Court of Justice petition was filed against Molcho concerning his work for Netanyahu.

The announcement of Molcho’s resignation comes a day ahead of a deadline for a response to the petition.