Anti-government protesters gathered in Tel Aviv and other locations across Israel on Saturday to demonstrate against proposed legislation for a government-appointed commission of inquiry into the October 7 Hamas attacks. Critics, including relatives of hostages and victims, argue the bill is an attempt by the coalition to avoid a state commission of inquiry, which would be led by independent experts appointed by the chief justice.
Why the proposed commission is facing backlash
The primary point of contention is the composition of the investigative panel. According to the draft law, the coalition and the opposition would each appoint three members to the six-person commission. However, the legislation includes a provision allowing the commission to operate with only coalition-appointed members if the opposition carries out its vowed boycott. Ayala Metzger, the daughter-in-law of 80-year-old hostage Yoram Metzger, characterized the bill as a “political, populist, fascist” effort, arguing at a 500-person protest in Tel Aviv’s Habima Square that the coalition is attempting to investigate its own role in the failures that enabled the Hamas onslaught.
How the state commission differs from the coalition proposal
A state commission of inquiry represents the highest level of investigative authority in Israel. Unlike the government-proposed model, a state commission is entirely independent once established and is led by experts chosen by the Supreme Court president. While surveys consistently show public preference for a state commission, the government has resisted its formation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and various cabinet ministers have publicly claimed that a commission appointed by Supreme Court President Isaac Amit would lack public trust. Notably, the government has not utilized this specific argument in High Court of Justice hearings, where it has maintained that only the government holds the legal authority to establish such a panel.
What could happen next in the Knesset
The legislation is expected to move forward this week for its first of three required plenum votes, according to reports from Channel 12. The bill previously cleared a preliminary hearing in December. If the government succeeds in passing the legislation, it will likely face continued opposition from protest groups and political rivals who view the move as a method of shielding the administration from accountability. Anti-government protest leader Shikma Bressler signaled the ongoing intensity of the movement, stating that the government members know their role in the “great disaster” of October 7.
Context of the protests
Saturday’s demonstrations featured diverse voices of dissent, including Eran Littman, whose daughter Oriya was killed at the Nova music festival. Littman criticized the government’s handling of the war and expressed strong opposition to Haredi efforts to pass a Basic Law that would equate privileges for draft-evading yeshiva students with those of military personnel. While the protests were largely centered on the inquiry commission, marchers also carried signs expressing anti-war and anti-occupation sentiments. Police were present at the rallies, notably intervening to separate a shouting match between pro-government activist Hadar Muchtar and an anti-government influencer.