October 7 inquiry postponed until after election, Knesset passes other key laws - comment

The government has informed the High Court of Justice that the proposed commission of inquiry into the October 7 massacre will be postponed until after the upcoming election. The stated reason for the delay is the "constraints of the Knesset’s schedule," as lawmakers departed for their election recess. The inquiry bill had passed its first reading on July 6 but required further committee work and two additional votes.

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due to the constraints of the Knesset’s schedule

This explanation faces scrutiny given the outgoing Knesset's final week, during which lawmakers found the time and procedural flexibility to pass several far-reaching laws. These included measures freezing enforcement against Haredi yeshiva students who failed to report for military service, enacting a Basic Law on Torah Study amidst reported military manpower shortages, weakening the attorney-general's authority, and expanding gender-segregated academic programs. The coalition expedited committee proceedings and extended plenum sessions to secure the passage of these politically important bills.

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The inquiry bill passed its first reading on July 6 but still required committee work and two further votes.

The government now intends to revive the inquiry proposal after the October 27 election, while simultaneously asking the court to dismiss petitions demanding a state commission, arguing the issue should be left to voters. This approach contrasts sharply with earlier statements made by senior officials. In the initial weeks and months following the massacre, leaders like Prime Minister Netanyahu and then-defense minister Yoav Gallant spoke of an inevitable national reckoning and promised investigations "to the last degree."

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The government now says it will revive the proposal after the October 27 election, while asking the court to dismiss petitions seeking a state commission of inquiry because the issue should be left to voters.

As time progressed, the government's stance shifted. Initially, an investigation was deemed inappropriate during wartime. Subsequently, opposition focused on the law's provision for the Supreme Court president to appoint commission members. Critics contend that the government is prioritizing election considerations over accountability for the events of October 7, citing the expedited passage of other legislation as evidence that progress is possible when politically desired. The Haredi measures, in particular, are viewed by some as an attempt to appease political partners rather than a sustainable solution to the military burden-sharing crisis.

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The failure would be investigated “to the last degree” and that everyone, including him, would have to provide answers once the war ended.