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Knesset delays inquiry
Israel’s Knesset approved Monday night the first reading of a bill to establish a political inquiry commission into the October 7 massacre, but the legislation was not expected to advance further in the current Knesset.
“The Knesset approved the first reading of a bill on Monday night to establish a political investigation committee into the Oct”
The practical result, according to Ynetglobal, is that for at least the next six months no inquiry commission of any kind is expected to be established, even nearly three years after Hamas’ surprise attack.
Ynetnews said the coalition insisted on approving the bill in its first reading to preserve it for the next parliament through the continuity rule, under which a bill that passes a first reading in the plenum can be resumed in the next Knesset from the stage at which it stopped.
Under the bill submitted by Likud lawmaker Ariel Kallner, the inquiry commission would be appointed by politicians, with coalition lawmakers appointing three representatives and opposition lawmakers appointing three.
If the opposition does not cooperate, the bill would allow the commission to operate with only three members, meaning only the representatives appointed by the coalition.
Boycott and competing claims
Opposition lawmakers boycotted the Monday vote, and France 24 reported that they argued the proposed body would lack independence.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid said the opposition would not be part of a sham whose sole purpose is to whitewash and prevent the investigation of the greatest disaster to befall the Jewish people since the Holocaust.
Ynetnews reported that Netanyahu was absent from Monday night’s vote in the plenum, and that the bill passed with the support of 59 coalition lawmakers and no votes against.
Haaretz described the bill as a government-controlled October 7 probe as opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote.
In the alternative scenario described by Ynetnews, a unity government or a “change government” could promote a state commission of inquiry appointed by the chief justice, or advance President Isaac Herzog’s compromise proposal coordinated with Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg.
Who investigates and what’s at risk
The bill’s structure, as described by Ynetnews, would have the commission investigate “the events of the October 7 massacre, the war and the circumstances that led to them,” and submit its report to the Knesset speaker and the government.
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It would include six Israeli citizens, three chosen by the opposition and three by the coalition, and would also include four special-status observers from among bereaved families of fallen soldiers and representatives of released hostages, as defined by law.
The bill sets restrictions on who can serve, barring membership if, in the 18 years before October 7, a person served as a Supreme Court justice, prime minister, minister, officer at the rank of major general or above, Shin Bet chief or deputy chief, attorney general, military advocate general or Shin Bet legal adviser.
The Israel Democracy Institute argued that the political commission proposed by the Knesset would harm legitimate attempts to clarify the circumstances that led to the events of the October 7 and the ensuing war.
It warned that “the clear danger from such a commission is that it will be focused on a predetermined narrative and identify predetermined culprits,” while also saying the next government must establish a state commission of inquiry in accordance with the Commissions of Inquiry Law.
