President Isaac Herzog criticized the government on Tuesday for establishing a politically controlled probe into the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault and reiterated his call for a state commission of inquiry into the failures surrounding the massacre.

He made the remarks at a Bible study event marking the 10th of Tevet fast at his residence. The fast commemorates the beginning of the Babylonian siege that led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple in the 6th century BCE.

“If we truly wish to continue rebuilding, again and again, Jerusalem, the western Negev, the north, ourselves — our entire country — then we must remember that what matters is not ignoring the past, but learning from it and continually improving,” said Herzog.

“To that end, first and foremost, we must conduct a full, thorough and statesmanlike investigation, in accordance with existing law — the Law of Commissions of Inquiry — into the horrific disaster of October 7 and the failure and collapse of judgment that led to it,” he said.

“I have repeated this time and again over the past year, and I reiterate this call now,” the president added.

Last week, the coalition voted in favor in a preliminary reading to establish a politically appointed probe into the October 7, 2023, failures instead of a state commission of inquiry, drawing heated protests and condemnations from opposition lawmakers and bereaved families.

Prime........

© The Times of Israel