From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Knesset panel revises bill creating political probe into Oct. 7, preserves coalition control
Ariela Karmel is a political correspondent at The Times of Israel. She previously reported for Calcalist and Haaretz. She holds an MA in Middle Eastern and African History from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.
The Knesset Constitution Committee advances legislation establishing a politically appointed commission of inquiry into the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack.
The committee removes a controversial provision allowing the state comptroller to fill vacant seats on the panel, but preserves the coalition’s ability to unilaterally appoint the commission.
According to the legislation, the coalition and opposition would each appoint three members of the six-member body. The Knesset opposition has pledged to boycott such a panel, calling instead for a state commission of inquiry, the country’s highest investigative authority.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected forming a state commission of inquiry because its members would be selected by the judiciary, which he claims is biased against him.
An earlier provision in the bill that would have allowed the state comptroller to fill positions left vacant by either side was removed following criticism that the mechanism would allow newly elected State Comptroller Michael Rabello, formerly Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s personal lawyer, to effectively determine the composition of the panel if the opposition refused to participate.
However, the revised bill stipulates that the commission may begin operating as long as at least three members have been appointed, meaning that even if the opposition continues to boycott the process, a commission composed solely of coalition appointees could still conduct the inquiry.
In a statement, the Justice Ministry criticizes the legislation, noting that its proponents had argued that the commission would be established through a process that enjoys “broad consensus” and reflects “the majority of the public,” but that the current proposal “undermines that principle.”
It notes that under the current proposal, “it is entirely possible that only the coalition will appoint commission members.”
The government is aiming to advance the legislation, which passed its preliminary reading in December, in the Knesset this week.
The Times of Israel Community.