From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Independent Oct. 7 investigative panel sends warning letters to Netanyahu, Gallant
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
The independent Civilian Commission of Inquiry investigating the government’s failures on and leading up to the October 7, 2023 attacks sends warning notices to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and other current and former officials, offering them a final opportunity to testify before the release of the probe’s findings in the coming weeks.
Writing to Netanyahu, the members of the commission state that 130 witnesses have testified over the course of their investigation — including former prime ministers and other senior military and civilian officials — and that his name “came up again and again.”
“As the most senior authority in the State of Israel, who has made fateful decisions in recent years, the bereaved families would like to hear your take on the matter directly and in detail,” the commission writes, giving a deadline of November 1 to allow Netanyahu’s testimony to be included in its final report — which it says will be released to the public and submitted to the Knesset and President Isaac Herzog.
Netanyahu is highly unlikely to appear before the panel, as he continues to resist launching an official probe into the disaster.
In addition to Netanyahu and Gallant, the commission also sends letters to former prime minister Naftali Bennett and former IDF chief of staff and current National Unity party chairman Benny Gantz.
The Times of Israel Community.