PM Netanyahu to lead panel defining mandate of government inquiry of Oct 7 attack

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will lead the government panel to determine the mandate of the coalition government’s alternative commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7, 2023, massacres, Hebrew media reported on Thursday. 

The government commission, referred to as the "National Commission of Inquiry” in a coalition bill establishing an alternative investigative body, will be appointed by both the coalition and the opposition. Proposed by Likud Knesset Member Ariel Kallner, the commission would comprise either six or seven members. A vote on the bill is expected in the Ministerial Committee for Legislation on Sunday, with the panel set to convene for its first meeting on Monday.

The position of head of the ministerial panel tasked with formulating the mandate of the commission of inquiry was originally assigned to Justice Minister Yariv Levin, but according to a Hebrew media report, Levin asked Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs not to appoint him to lead the panel.

Rather than delay the start of the National Commission of Inquiry, Netanyahu chose to head the panel himself. This decision would give Netanyahu significant influence, as the panel will determine the scope of the commission’s inquiry, including what time periods and which issues to investigate. 

According to Ynet News, Cabinet members were informed of Netanyahu's decision on Thursday morning. Political opponents were quick to denounce the move as further proof that the prime minister hopes to avoid taking any responsibility for the attacks. 

The decision of the government to establish the National Commission of Inquiry, rather than setting up a State Commission of Inquiry – as was done following the Yom Kippur War – has been heavily criticized by the opposition, and is viewed unfavorably by a large number of Israelis, according to local surveys. 

Government and coalition representatives have argued that the inquiry needs to examine the roots of the Hamas attack, suggesting it be traced back to the 2005 Gaza Disengagement Plan of then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Netanyahu, a stark political opponent of Sharon at the time, voted in favor of the Disengagement Plan, despite telling his supporters that he would vote against it. 

Netanyahu’s critics have questioned whether a commission appointed under his authority would fully examine his own role in strengthening Hamas as an alternative to the Palestinian Authority, including permitting the group to receive Qatari funding and approving the release of senior Hamas figures, such as Yahya Sinwar during the Gilad Shalit deal.

Netanyahu has argued that the Israeli public would not accept a commission appointed by Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit due to a lack of trust.

The bill calls for a commission to be composed of appointees chosen by both the coalition and the opposition; however, opposition parties have said they will boycott the inquiry, demanding that a state commission of inquiry be established instead. 

After Netanyahu’s decision to lead the panel was announced, opposition party heads slammed the decision as politically motivated. 

Blue and White party head, Benny Gantz, said, “Promoting political decoration committees for the greatest failure since the establishment of the state is first and foremost a blow to security and also an offense to the bereaved families and tens of thousands of victims.” 

“In the face of this disgrace, we will continue to insist that the failure be investigated, the lessons be learned, and the truth be brought to light,” Gantz added. 

The Democrats party leader, Yair Golan, said that a committee determined by the prime minister represents more than just a conflict of interest. 

“Netanyahu at the head of the committee to determine the mandate? Let's save the bureaucracy and just let him write the verdict straight away,” Golan wrote on 𝕏. “This isn't 'conflict of interest,' it's organized crime under the guise of the law. The man responsible for the greatest disaster in our history isn't looking for answers, he's looking for an alibi.”