The Knesset approved the bill in a first reading Monday night, with 59 votes in favor and none against. The opposition boycotted the vote, arguing the commission would be controlled by the coalition. The legislation now moves to committee preparation for second and third readings.
The Knesset approved the bill for a national commission of inquiry into the October 7, 2023 massacre in a first reading Monday night, with the opposition boycotting the vote. The vote was 59-0, with no coalition members opposed.
The Zioneer first reported the bill's passage at 21:27 (Mon), describing it as a "national commission of inquiry." A bulletin at 21:31 (Mon) updated the report, noting the 59-0 vote and the opposition's boycott, and highlighted that under the legislation the commission can operate with coalition members alone, granting the prime minister near-complete control over its composition, according to Channel 12 and Knesset reports. The opposition disputes the "national commission" label, arguing it lacks the independence of a state commission of inquiry.
The bill was advanced by the Knesset Constitution Committee on June 9, as The Zioneer reported. The committee's approval allowed the commission to operate without opposition members. The coalition has been racing to pass legislation ahead of the election recess, as reported on June 30.
The legislation requires two more readings and a committee stage before becoming law. The opposition has vowed to continue fighting the bill, arguing it gives the coalition exclusive control over the investigation.
4 developments
- StrongBill establishing national commission of inquiry passes first Knesset reading
- DevelopingKnesset committee approves bill for political commission of inquiry into October 7 massacre
- StrongOctober Council founder: Political commission a 'whitewash committee' after Knesset passes bill
- StrongKnesset debates bill for political commission of inquiry into October 7 as MKs spar over composition
Source and signal
- Open-source intake