Government said to decide not to establish a state commission of inquiry into October 7

The government decides not to establish a state commission of inquiry into the October 7, 2023, Hamas invasion and atrocities at the current time, Hebrew media reports.

Instead, several cabinet ministers reportedly express a readiness to advance legislation allowing for the establishment of a “special” state commission, whose members would be appointed in a different manner to how a regular state commission of inquiry is appointed.

At present, the members of a state commission of inquiry are appointed by the Supreme Court president, but several cabinet members make hostile comments regarding current president Isaac Amit, and say the chair of the commission who appoints its members should be approved by a two-thirds majority in Knesset, Channel 12 reports.

The government initially opposed establishing a state commission of inquiry on the grounds that doing so amid an ongoing war would distract the military and be divisive. It has subsequently argued that such a committee would be slanted against the government, since its members are appointed by the president of the Supreme Court.

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid says the implication of failing to establish a state commission will be that “the catastrophe of October 7 will happen again and again,” adding, “If we do not investigate what led to the disaster we will not be able to learn the lessons and ensure that it won’t happen again.”