Israel Needs Permanent State Inquiry Commission to Prevent Future Disasters
Translated & summarized from Zman Yisrael by baba
An article advocates for a permanent state inquiry commission in Israel to investigate government failures and prevent future disasters, citing the October 7th attack and other incidents. It criticizes the current government for evading accountability and proposes a permanent, independent body staffed by professionals, potentially headed by a Supreme Court justice. The author argues this would ensure thorough investigations and prevent politicians from obstructing inquiries into their own failures.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel needs a permanent state inquiry commission to investigate government failures and prevent future disasters.
- The government is accused of evading responsibility for the October 7th attack and other incidents.
- A preliminary warning was issued to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the submarine affair.
- The article proposes a permanent commission staffed by non-political professionals, possibly led by a Supreme Court justice.
- A new law is suggested to remove politicians' power to block investigations into their failures.
The article argues for the establishment of a permanent state inquiry commission in Israel to investigate government failures and prevent future disasters, citing a pattern of negligence and evasion of responsibility.
It highlights the perceived failures surrounding the October 7th Hamas attack and a recent aviation security incident, suggesting the government avoids accountability by delaying or obstructing investigations. The author points to the ongoing five-year investigation into the submarine affair, which has so far only issued a preliminary warning to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for endangering national security and harming foreign relations and economic interests. The article posits that had Netanyahu been removed from office following such a warning, the October 7th disaster might have been averted.
Historically, Israel has established state inquiry commissions roughly every three to four years following significant disasters. However, the current Netanyahu governments are accused of effectively thwarting such investigations. The author proposes a permanent, independent commission staffed by non-political professionals appointed by law, similar to the State Comptroller's office, which regularly audits government functions without political interference.
Such a permanent commission, ideally headed by a Supreme Court justice, could have immediately investigated the October 7th massacre, the handling of hostages, and the prolonged war, thereby bypassing public debate and trust issues. The article concludes that a new law is necessary to strip politicians responsible for disasters of the power to decide whether to form inquiry commissions, thereby preventing the misuse of power and the concealment of failures.
