Netanyahu Vows to Renew State Comptroller's Probe After Elections

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Sunday that his first action after the upcoming elections will be to renew the State Comptroller's investigation into the failures of October 7. Netanyahu expressed distrust in a commission of inquiry whose members would be appointed by the judicial system, particularly criticizing the Supreme Court and its president, Justice Yitzhak Amit, whom he accused of making politically motivated decisions.

Netanyahu explained his preference for an inquiry commission composed equally of representatives from the coalition and the opposition, stating he would personally attend and answer all opposition questions. He drew a parallel to the commission established in the United States after the September 11 attacks, asserting that such a body would gain public trust. The Prime Minister also claimed that the Supreme Court's decision to halt parts of the State Comptroller's review was driven by a fear of exposing failures by senior security officials.

This announcement follows the Supreme Court's June ruling that accepted petitions against some of the review procedures initiated by former State Comptroller Matanyahu Engelman regarding the October 7 events. The court determined that four of the review processes exceeded the comptroller's authority, while four others could proceed under conditions that protected the rights of those being reviewed.

Netanyahu's declaration signals that the investigation into the October 7 failures will likely remain a focal point of contention between the government and the judiciary. However, the Prime Minister did not elaborate on how he intends to restart the halted investigations after the elections, given the independence of the State Comptroller's office and the limitations set by the court.