The Israeli cabinet ruled to delay a decision on establishing a state commission of inquiry into the events of October 7, Israeli media announced on Saturday night.
The cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, decided to delay the establishment of a state probe by three months following a lengthy and tense debate.
Netanyahu also said that only "the elected government of Israel" can and will decide when the war between Israel and the terror groups in the region will end. He stated that the ongoing "historic campaign" must be ended by the government rather than any other official, "no matter who they are."
"We are in a war with seven fronts; we must investigate what happened fully, not partially, and not with bias," Netanyahu added.
Sa'ar seeking the commission's establishment
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar presented a detailed proposal for the establishment of the commission, addressing three main questions: What will be investigated, who will investigate, and when the investigation will take place.
According to Maariv, Sa'ar proposed establishing a ministerial team that would define the mandate of the investigation and the timeframe of the investigation – both before and after October 7. He suggested that, because the investigation includes the Iron Swords War – it should be established after the war ends, but if it focuses on the events of October 7 and the factors that led to them – it can be started now.
However, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi did not approve of establishing the committee, saying "Who will investigate the investigators?"
Karhi also criticized the High Court's involvement: "The High Court, the body that constantly intervened in security matters, that tied the hands of the IDF, that forced us to soften the orders to open fire, that protects the conditions of terrorists and their families – is the last one that should lead the investigation into the disaster."
