ByKESHET NEEV

MAY 13, 2026 14:54

A modified draft of the disputed bill aimed at creating a government-chosen panel to examine failures ahead of the October 7 assaults has excised phrases demanding a "full, thorough, and independent investigation," as revealed in a Knesset Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee session pushing the measure forward on Wednesday.

Relatives of those killed in the attacks have condemned the alterations as an effort by the government to obscure its shortcomings, coinciding with renewed legislative arguments over the polarizing proposal.

Committee legal expert Adv. Dr. Gur Bligh recited the revised objectives section and questioned the deletion of the "full, thorough, and independent investigation" language.

Bill proponent MK Ariel Kallner (Likud) explained the edit by stating it aimed to streamline the text and sharpen its intent.

He asserted that the adjustment would promote balanced oversight and resolve societal divisions.

"The objective remains to ensure every segment of Israeli society feels included on the panel. There is absolutely no doubt this will deliver a thorough, independent, and self-governing probe," Kallner emphasized.

The October Council, representing families devastated by the atrocities, denounced the revisions, declaring that "the reality of the bill" had finally emerged.

"Even in its initial form, this statute for a politically driven cover-up was fraught with defects, as noted repeatedly by the Constitution Committee's legal advisor," the group declared.

"Now, the authorities have stripped out the assurance of a 'full, thorough, and independent investigation,' making their motives transparent to everyone."

"For almost a thousand days, they have rejected a formal state inquiry commission, preferring to handpick investigators and dictate outcomes in advance."

Victims' Families Demand Bill Be Stopped

Grieving families gathered at the Knesset to demand a pause in the bill's progress and urged the launch of an official state commission to scrutinize the October 7 events.

Opposition members have shunned all committee proceedings on the measure, previously announcing their unwillingness to engage in its deliberations.

This update arrives as the panel reconvened deliberations at the start of the Knesset summer session - likely the final one prior to elections, when the coalition plans to enact pending laws.

Having cleared a preliminary reading in December, the legislation proposes an alternative inquiry structure that departs from the standard, court-supervised state commission model. It requires three more full Knesset votes to pass.

The proposed setup contrasts sharply with the 1968 Commissions of Inquiry Law's established state commission framework.

A state commission stands as Israel's premier independent probe mechanism, insulated from politics, with appointees chosen by the Supreme Court's president, full subpoena authority, and capacity for personal accountability findings.

Kallner's initiative substitutes court selections with a Knesset-dominated appointment procedure.

The panel would include roughly six members. Lawmakers get a short window to secure consensus via an 80-member supermajority ballot.

Failing that, the ruling coalition and opposition would each name three commissioners.

Yet, should the opposition decline involvement - a prospect many anticipate - Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana (Likud) gains authority to fill those positions, fueling intense debate.

Prime Minister Netanyahu remains one of the few top figures yet to step down post-October 7 massacre. The leadership has consistently thwarted a state-led probe, even as surveys indicate strong public backing.

In February, Netanyahu published a 55-page response to State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman regarding the Hamas assault inquiry.

His submission highlights security apparatus breakdowns while minimizing his own involvement. Opposition head Yair Lapid criticized it as doctored and partial to dodge blame.

Debate persists on the probe's nature and leadership. Amid tensions with the judiciary, Netanyahu has voiced opposition to court-led oversight.

Prominent election contender Naftali Bennett and other opposition figures pledge a state commission on October 7 if they gain power.

This week in the Knesset, Lapid, Yisrael Beytenu chair MK Avigdor Liberman, Democrats head Yair Golan, and Blue and White's MK Benny Gantz joined the October Council in signing a pledge for a state inquiry in the post-election government.

Last October, the cabinet endorsed Netanyahu's bid to rename the Israel-Hamas conflict from Operation Swords of Iron to War of Revival.

The move drew fire, with detractors arguing it recasts the war as renewal to sidestep October 7 accountability.