Israeli Minister Dismisses Blame for October 7th Failures, Defends Politically Appointed Inquiry
The Israeli government is facing mounting scrutiny over its handling of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks, but Culture Minister Miki Zohar asserted on Thursday that attributing primary obligation to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is unrealistic. His comments arrive as the governing coalition moves forward with a controversial bill to establish a politically appointed commission of inquiry into the events surrounding the massacre.
Zohar, in an interview with the Walla news site, rejected the notion that an examination would definitively implicate Netanyahu as the main person responsible for the government’s failures. “Anyone who thinks a commission would conclude that the main culprit is Netanyahu is living in a dream world,” he stated.He characterized the events as a “complex methodological event that goes back decades,” suggesting widespread complacency among Israeli citizens and a collective “euphoria” contributed to the circumstances.
The proposed investigative panel, according to Zohar, will not solely focus on the current government. It will also examine the actions of “previous governments” and opposition figures, including Naftali Bennett, yair Lapid, Benny Gantz, and Avigdor Liberman, as well as security agencies like the Shin Bet.
Bennett and Lapid previously led the government that ousted Netanyahu in 2021 and 2022, marking the only period he has been out of power as 2009. Gantz and Liberman served alongside them in that coalition.
Recent polling data indicates that a majority of Israelis support a state commission of inquiry – the country’s highest investigative authority – to investigate the October 7th attack. Though, coalition lawmakers argue that such a commission would be inherently biased due to the selection of its members by High Court President Isaac Amit, amidst the government’s ongoing efforts to curtail judicial power.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin previously attempted, unsuccessfully, to prevent Amit from assuming the presidency of the High Court. The coalition has actively blocked legislative attempts to establish a state commission, opting instead for the politically appointed inquiry approved on Wednesday, a move that sparked protests from opposition lawmakers and bereaved families.
Netanyahu has indicated that the scope of the investigation should extend back decades, encompassing the 1993 Oslo Accords, the 2005 Disengagement from Gaza, and even the recent protest movement against the government’s judicial overhaul, which began in 2023.
Zohar also addressed allegations surrounding senior aides to netanyahu implicated in the “Qatargate” probe. He defended Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein, who are accused of working for a pro-Qatar lobbying firm and disseminating messaging from Doha while employed by the prime minister. While acknowledging their actions as “immoral,” Zohar maintained they were not necessarily criminal,suggesting critics are attempting to link them to Netanyahu. He specifically defended Urich,stating,”From my acquaintance with Urich,he is a good person.It’s possible he got caught up in a situation. I’m not sure he knew exactly the nature of the client. He knew who he was representing,but not the significance that would result from it. Urich’s intentions were certainly not negative.”
These statements contrast with those of other coalition members – Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, Likud MK Eli Dallal, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich – who have called for a thorough investigation into the allegations. Their calls followed an interview with Feldstein on the Kan public broadcaster, in which he alleged that Netanyahu was responsible for leaking classified intelligence to the German daily Bild to influence Israeli public opinion during hostage negotiations last year. Netanyahu’s office has denied these claims.
The ongoing debate underscores the deep political divisions surrounding accountability for the October 7th attacks and the future direction of Israel’s security policies.
