President Herzog opposes coalition probe into Oct 7, calls for state commission of inquiry

President Isaac Herzog on Tuesday spoke out against the coalition government’s plans to establish a "national" commission of inquiry instead of a state commission of inquiry to examine the events of Oct. 7, 2023, warning a politically motivated commission could “significantly harm” public trust in the results. 

“The terrible disaster of October 7, and the failure that led to it, must be investigated in depth and by the state,” Herzog said during remarks at the Bible Circle held at the presidential residence. Throughout his term, President Herzog has regularly hosted a Bible study related to the weekly Torah and Prophets reading in the traditional reading cycle of Torah portions.

This week’s Bible Circle was held on the fast of the 10th of Tevet, which commemorates the beginning of the Babylonian siege on Jerusalem, which led to the destruction of the city, the exile of most of the inhabitants, and the end of the First Temple Period. Herzog reminded those present that Jerusalem was rebuilt following the destruction. 

הערב קיימנו מפגש של חוג התנ״ך בשיתוף מיזם ״929 - תנ״ך ביחד״ לציון צום עשרה בטבת, יום המצור על ירושלים.

זהו יום שמלמד אותנו אמת לא נוחה - אסון לאומי איננו מתחיל ביום שבו הכול מתמוטט. הוא מתחיל ביום בו אנחנו מפסיקים להקשיב, כאשר מי שמזהיר נתפס כמי שמגזים או לא מבין את התמונה.… pic.twitter.com/a4QSDKMmw3

— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) December 30, 2025

“If we earnestly desire to continue rebuilding, again and again, Jerusalem, the western Negev, the north, ourselves – our entire country – let us remember that what matters is not ignoring the past, but learning from it and improving all the time,” Herzog said. 

“To do that, first and foremost, we must investigate in a full, deep and state-wide manner, in accordance with existing law – the Law of Commissions of Inquiry – the horrific disaster of October 7 and the failure and collapse of judgment that led to it,” he continued. 

“I have repeated this over and over again in the past year and I repeat my call now,” Herzog said. 

“The pain of citizens, families and communities in Israel is immense – they want answers, and they deserve answers. Including political elements as members of the committee, especially in the midst of an election year, could significantly harm this important process and trust in it,” President Herzog warned. 

He drew comparisons between the destruction of Jerusalem in the First Temple Period, and the Oct. 7 disaster. 

“The Tenth of Tevet teaches us an uncomfortable truth,” Herzog stated. “A national disaster does not begin the day everything collapses. It begins the day we stop listening, the day we stop listening to the voices within ourselves, and the day we stop listening to the voices of the enemy, the day we stop seeing reality as it is or stop wanting to see it as it is.” 

“A national disaster begins when early signs are perceived as unnecessary noise. When warnings are perceived as a disruption to routine, when those who warn are perceived as trying, exaggerating, or not understanding the picture, as they say. When, as we have learned firsthand, the warnings of an observer or a counter-observer who place shaking warning signs regarding an enemy preparing for an attack are ignored,” Herzog continued, referencing the warnings given before the war by the female IDF observation scouts, which were discounted by their superiors. 

In conclusion, Herzog said, “Particularly after the national disaster of the October 7 massacre, Simchat Torah, precisely out of pain, we are called upon to build a common future, and for its sake – we are called upon to have a different kind of heroism. Not only the heroism of warriors on the battlefield, but also civic, moral, and leadership heroism.” 

Herzog warned of the threat of political division within the nation. 

“The heroism to understand that the greatest threat to a society is not always the one outside the walls - but the one who sneaks in while the walls are still standing - and who divides, polarizes, seeks to widen the cracks, and turn them into abysses,” he stated. 

While not mentioning names, Herzog appeared to critique National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who have verbally castigated political opponents, including the Supreme Court president, the Attorney General, and the heads of security institutions, such as the Israel Police and IDF. 

“The courage to understand that rude and blunt discourse, which often amounts to actual verbal violence – especially from elected officials towards dedicated public servants – brings us closer to the brink of another national disaster. We learn this lesson from the Tenth of Tevet, from both distant and recent history,” Herzog noted. 

The government’s refusal to conduct a state commission of inquiry, as in previous failures, such as the Yom Kippur War, has angered many of the families of the hostages and those killed on Oct. 7 or during captivity in Gaza. 

The coalition government has rejected a state commission of inquiry, as the make-up of such a commission would be determined by the Supreme Court president. Many members of the coalition do not trust Supreme Court President Isaac Amit, and they have argued that most of their constituents would not trust the results of a commission appointed by him. 

Polling has shown that a majority of Israelis appear to support such a commission, despite the coalition government’s claims to the contrary.