Submarine Commission's Delays Show State Inquiry Institutions Are Bankrupt
Translated & summarized from Makor Rishon by baba
The Israeli state inquiry commission system is ineffective due to lengthy delays and procedural complexities, as exemplified by the submarines investigation committee. Established in 2022, the committee has seen leadership changes and is only now beginning personal responsibility hearings. The article argues this prolonged process prevents accountability for government failures, citing the potential for a future October 7th commission to take over a decade to conclude.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- The submarines investigation committee, established in 2022, is still in its early stages, highlighting systemic delays.
- Retired Justice Acher Grunis resigned as chairman of the submarines committee due to medical reasons.
- Retired Justice Zvi Zilbertal has been appointed as the new chairman of the submarines investigation committee.
- Senior Judge Ruth Lior was appointed as a new member to the submarines investigation committee.
- The article argues that state inquiry commissions are ineffective and lead to a lack of accountability for failures.
The Israeli state inquiry commission system is fundamentally broken, as evidenced by the prolonged and slow progress of the submarines investigation committee, the article argues. Established in January 2022 to probe into the procurement of naval vessels and submarines, the committee was mandated to examine events spanning several years involving a limited number of individuals. However, nearly five years after its inception, the committee is still in its early stages, with personal responsibility hearings for those warned by the committee only scheduled to begin shortly.
This week, the committee saw a change in leadership. Its chairman, retired Supreme Court Justice Acher Grunis, stepped down for medical reasons. He has been replaced by committee member retired Supreme Court Justice Zvi Zilbertal. Senior Judge Ruth Lior, former president of the Central District Court, has been appointed as a new member to maintain the committee's quorum.
The article contends that the extended timelines and procedural complexities, exacerbated by the adversarial relationship between the executive and judicial branches, render state inquiry commissions ineffective. It posits that the system has become overly litigious, transforming from a tool for uncovering truth and drawing lessons into a public spectacle. The author contrasts this with the speed of the Agranat Commission, which investigated the Yom Kippur War's failures, suggesting that a commission for the October 7th failures would take at least 12 years to conclude, by which time key figures might no longer be alive.
The piece suggests that the perceived failure of state inquiry commissions means that political figures, like Prime Minister Netanyahu and his ministers, often avoid accountability for failures, as the lengthy processes outlast political careers. The article concludes that the institution of state inquiry commissions has become bankrupt, unable to fulfill its intended purpose of improving government operations and learning from mistakes.
