Herzog Calls for Investigation into Oct. 7 Failures; Netanyahu Silent

President Isaac Herzog, speaking at a memorial ceremony for victims of the October 7th attack at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, emphasized the need to investigate the intelligence failures that preceded the assault. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was present at the ceremony but did not address the call for an investigation in his remarks. While Herzog did not explicitly mention a "state commission of inquiry," a demand echoed by significant segments of Israeli society and opposition parties, he stressed the necessity of examining the events. The Likud party, meanwhile, rejected a proposal by Gadi Eisenkot, a candidate for prime minister and head of the Yishai party, for a televised debate with Netanyahu, questioning if Eisenkot would participate alone or with Mansour Abbas.

During the ceremony, an attendee shouted at Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit, stating, "You have no right to lay a wreath." The event was attended by a large audience.

Separately, former Member of Knesset Mohammad Hassan Kanaan, head of the Arab National Party, discussed the latest political developments on the eve of elections in an interview with Hala channel.