Oct. 7 alternative inquiry bill will reach first reading Monday, gov’t tells High Court

The Israeli government has informed the High Court of Justice that a bill establishing an alternative framework for investigating the October 7 events is scheduled for its first reading in the Knesset on July 6. This development comes as the government also requested a 30-day extension to submit a further update on petitions demanding a state commission of inquiry into the failures of October 7 and the ensuing war.

The government reiterated its stance that it, as the body responsible for state security, holds the legal authority to decide on establishing an inquiry, its mandate, and its commencement. The filing did not indicate a decision to form a state commission of inquiry under the existing legal framework. Instead, it highlighted the advancement of a separate government-backed bill, officially termed a "state-national" commission of inquiry.

This distinction is central to an ongoing dispute. A state commission of inquiry is Israel's most authoritative investigative mechanism, with members appointed by the Supreme Court president and operating independently of the political echelon. The government-backed bill, however, proposes a different process. Under the version approved for its first reading, the Knesset would first attempt to appoint a six-member panel with 80 MKs' support. If unsuccessful, the committee chairman and opposition leader would each appoint three members.

However, a revised proposal allows the commission to operate with as few as three members. Given the opposition parties' boycott of the bill and their refusal to participate, this framework could potentially result in a panel composed entirely of coalition-appointed members. Earlier versions included provisions for the state comptroller to fill vacant positions if appointments failed, but this was removed in the latest proposal.