Netanyahu's Unusual Plan to Investigate Oct. 7 Attack Sparks Outcry

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants a special commission to investigate the security failures of October 7. His proposal is causing major controversy in Israel. The issue is how the commission members would be chosen. Netanyahu's plan departs from standard legal procedure. Normally, a supreme court judge selects the members of a state inquiry commission. Under the Prime Minister's proposal, the government would have direct control over appointments. Critics, including political opponents and families of victims, call this a move to control the investigation. They fear it could limit the inquiry's independence and its findings. Supporters argue it will allow a faster and more focused investigation into the Hamas-led attacks. They say standard procedures are too slow for a war-time situation. The debate has deepened existing political divisions in Israel. It raises a central question: who should judge the government's own preparedness and response? The outcome will determine the credibility of the official account of one of Israel's worst security failures.