Interior minister backs state commission into October 7, warning against civilian probe

Interior Minister Moshe Arbel of Shas issues a call to establish a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 attack, expressing concern that the independent civilian commission of inquiry could be exposing sensitive security information.

In a letter to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, Arbel says he is concerned that documents and testimony brought in front of the private commission — in particular today by Opposition Leader and former prime minister Yair Lapid — “are violating information security laws” and potentially obstructing justice.

Arbel says that while he personally backs establishing a state commission — something Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected — a delay in any such investigation should not allow for the reveal of classified information.

In response, the civilian commission of inquiry says that if the government establishes a state investigation, it will halt its activities, but until then it will continue ahead with its probe.