Benjamin Netanyahu: October 7 must be investigated - but all the way

The Israeli government met tonight (Sunday) to discuss the convening of a State Commission of Inquiry to investigate the failure to identify and prevent the October 7 attacks, when Hamas and supporting terrorists and civilians murdered over 1,000 civilians and soldiers and kidnapped over 200.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said that while he supported an investigation, he insisted that it be done on the government's terms, and with commission members they judged truly impartial, especially the judge meant to preside over the commission. Following the acrimony over the judicial reform, finding such people will be no easy task.

Netanyahu said that:

The timing of ending the campaign is under the authority of the government, its leader, and the cabinet.

We are in the midst of a historic campaign. It didn't end with two ceasefires that were defined as temporary from the start. We are in a war on 7 fronts. We have achieved a lot, made impressive progress on the hostages issue and in achieving other war objectives - but the campaign isn't over yet, and it has an enormous impact on Israel's future security.

No clerk of any kind will determine for us when it will end. Those who manage the war, and also the achievement of peace, are not the officials. It's Israel's elected government.

Regarding the composition - I agree with those who say it should have the broadest possible consensus.

We must investigate what happened - but to the end! To the end! Not partially, and not in a biased way. I insist on this and won't settle for less.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar tried to set the terms of what such a commission should seek to investigate and ultimately accomplish:

The relevant questions: What will be investigated? Who will investigate? When will the investigation take place?

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar expressed support during the meeting for a state commission of inquiry as the best way to conduct an investigation into a multi-dimensional failure: policy, operational, and intelligence.

Minister Sa'ar proposed examining a legislative amendment that would allow the government to authorize any of the former Supreme Court Presidents and Deputy Presidents to determine the composition of the commission.

The Foreign Minister further recommended that the government establish a ministerial team to consider and recommend regarding the investigation's mandate and the timeframe and events to be investigated - the time period before October 7, 2023, as well as the question of how far the investigated period extends.

If Operation Iron Swords is to be included in the investigation's mandate - logic dictates that the commission of inquiry should be established after the war ends. However, if the investigation will only include the October 7 events and what led to them - it can be established now.