Opposition leaders slam government decision not to establish Oct. 7 state commission: ‘The truth will come out’

The leaders of the Knesset’s opposition parties condemn the cabinet’s decision not to establish a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 Hamas-led invasion, dismissing the move as an effort by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to evade responsibility for the attack.

Without establishing such a commission, “the catastrophe of October 7 will happen again and again,” argues Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, adding that “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.”

“I know what was said in the closed meetings and in the security cabinet. Everything is recorded and documented. [Netanyahu] knows exactly why he is afraid of a state commission of inquiry” and “the truth will come out, with or without him,” declares Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman.

“The government is right, this is not the time to establish a state commission of inquiry. That time was over a year ago when I submitted the proposal to the government, and every moment that it is delayed, the security of the state is compromised,” tweets National Unity chairman Benny Gantz, a former member of Netanyahu’s now-defunct war cabinet.

“The public is not stupid. The only reason a state commission of inquiry is not being established is an attempt to escape responsibility. If you’re not going to do it, at least spare us the embarrassing excuses.”

The Democrats chair Yair Golan also slams the government, accusing Netanyahu and his ministers of being “afraid of the truth and running away from their responsibility for the worst massacre in Israel’s history.”

“I promise: the truth will come out and they will bear full responsibility,” he says.