Likud MK presents outline for government Oct. 7 probe in place of independent state commission

Likud lawmaker Ariel Kallner presents the main principles of his outline for a proposed “national state investigation committee” into the failures of October 7, in place of an independent state commission of inquiry.

The plan, an earlier version of which was floated by Kallner earlier this year, calls for a majority of 80 out of 120 MKs to appoint a six-member committee and its chairman. If there is no agreement after two weeks, both the opposition and coalition will be allowed to select three committee members, who will be joined by four supervisory members representatives of bereaved families.

The proposal states that if either the coalition or opposition does not cooperate in the process or cannot settle on a candidate, the Knesset speaker will choose instead, giving the coalition effective control in the event of what is likely to be an opposition boycott.

Any two members of the committee would be empowered to summon any person or investigate any entity, and all discussions would be broadcast live.

In a booklet explaining his proposal, Kallner writes that the proposal is intended to provide the probe with broad public approval, arguing, in the face of polling to the contrary, that a state commission of inquiry, whose members would be chosen by Supreme Court President Isaac Amit, would not enjoy public support.

“Instead of appointing a committee by one controversial individual, who heads a judicial system that is at an unprecedented low in terms of public trust, the establishment of a committee would be done in an equitable manner by those elected by the people. This would give the committee and its conclusions the broad public trust it needs,” he writes.

The proposed bill is reportedly backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — who has argued strongly against a state commission of inquiry — and was formulated with the input of Justice Minister Yariv Levin. The bill has not yet been approved by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation but will reportedly be on its agenda in the coming weeks.

Netanyahu has long opposed the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the onslaught – the single deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust and the worst disaster in modern Israeli history – despite polls that have consistently indicated a clear majority of Israelis support it, including the families of hostages and those murdered during the attacks and killed in the subsequent war.

Kallner’s proposal is not the only one being advanced by the coalition. Last month, the government voted to establish its own probe into the failures surrounding the Hamas invasion and massacre.

Despite being touted as an “independent” investigation, the government commission’s mandate will be determined by cabinet ministers, and the government will strive for its makeup to receive “as broad public approval as possible,” the government decision noted.