Opposition leaders demand criminal probe into Netanyahu, state commission of inquiry over Oct. 7

Former IDF chief of staff and Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot rebuked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Likud on Wednesday, on the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre.

Responding to a Likud message posted by Netanyahu on his X/Twitter, where the prime minister defends himself from accusations of receiving advance warnings prior to the October 7 attack, Eisenkot called Netanyahu a liar who is fleeing from his responsibility for the disaster.

"Anyone who lies, and whose sole ability is to delay decisions and flee from responsibility, is unworthy of the prices we have paid. They will not be able to repair things after the disaster. They are unworthy to lead Israel," said Eisenkot.

"Three years since the October 7 massacre - three years of a miserable attempt to escape responsibility. To make people forget the disaster. To evade the truth, the warnings that were presented, the alerts that were voiced, the alarm bells that rang. We will not allow the prime minister of October 7 to rewrite history, even if he submits another thousand false affidavits," Eisenkot continued.

Eisenkot then called on the attorney-general to open a criminal investigation into "anyone who falsified documents and disrupted testimony" and hold them accountable. He also called for the establishment of a State Commission of Inquiry, vowing it would be the first order of business if he were to be elected prime minister.

Netanyahu's Likud message denies dire accusations

Netanyahu's October 7 message came in the face of a barrage of accusations from various directions regarding failure on his part, deliberate or otherwise, on the day of the massacre.

Accusations involve reports that the prime minister had received prior warnings of the event, which were subsequently ignored, as well as verifiable and consistent behavior, like his outright opposition to the establishment of a State Commission of Inquiry.

Accusations of prior warnings include, but are not limited to: An investigation by The Atlantic that revealed that Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel's visited Israel 11 days before the October 7 attack, in which he delivered a warning that Hamas was preparing for a significant attack; and an investigation published by Haaretz last month suggesting that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan warned Netanyahu that Hamas was planning a major operation against Israel in the days leading to the attack.

In the October 7 Likud message, Netanyahu took to the defense, saying "Sadly, on this painful day of all days, Channel 12 is broadcasting false political propaganda against Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Likud all day long, with the aim of toppling right-wing rule and paving the way for a left-wing government that will establish a Palestinian state."

Netanyahu released a 55-page document late in February that outlined answers he gave to State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman as part of the investigation into the October 7 Hamas attack.

The prime minister's answers point to failures among officials in the security establishment and appear to deflect his role in the outcome of the attacks.

Lapid: 'Sheer amount of lies leaves no choice' but to respond

Opposition leader and former prime minister Yair Lapid also took to X on Wednesday in response to the Likud message.

"The last thing I wanted was to start another argument with Netanyahu on this heartbreaking national day of mourning, but the sheer amount of lies leaves no choice," the message begins.

"If there was no intelligence warning, why did I convene a press conference on September 20 and warn of a security disaster based on the intelligence material that was also placed before Netanyahu?

"Why did he refuse on October 1, 2023, the proposals of the Shin Bet and the IDF to launch a preemptive strike in Gaza, claiming 'that it would harm peace with Saudi Arabia?'"

Lapid continued, asking, "Why did he ignore the fact that on July 24 the head of the Shin Bet told him: 'I am giving you a war warning right now.' Why on September 13 did the head of the Shin Bet convene the Intelligence Subcommittee to present it with the 'Perfect Storm' warning of a multi-arena flare-up, which Netanyahu was also aware of and also ignored?

"Why did he time and again ignore the warnings of the Shin Bet and Military Intelligence according to which the suitcases of Qatari cash were being used by Hamas's military wing to acquire weapons and munitions? Why did he say time and again that Hamas needs to be strengthened, instead of eliminating it as he promised?"

He concluded, saying, "Above all - why is he so afraid of a State Commission of Inquiry?... Netanyahu stood at the head of the system. The October 7 massacre happened. He is guilty. He is responsible."

Ofer Winter lays out plan for State Commission of Inquiry into October 7

Meanwhile, Ofer Winter's People of Israel party revealed its plan to establish a State Inquiry Commission into October 7 in a Monday statement.

"The fact that an inquiry commission has not been established to date is a shared disgrace for both the coalition and the opposition - both sides have an interest in avoiding an inquiry commission because they were part of the failure. We will lead an inquiry commission untainted by interests," the party said.

Under the proposed framework, an independent mechanism will be established outside the control of the government and political influence. The People of Israel party claims that the process will be based on principles of "truth, trust, and results."

They claim to aim the establish a commission undivided by political lines and uninfluenced by political entities that may obfuscate the "truth," a body that "possesses full investigative powers" and "operates without political restrictions on investigative directions," promising results within six months.

The People of Israel proposal involves a selection process in which the new Knesset will elect a chairperson and deputy chairperson in the manner of presidential elections, as well as a voting procedure via secret ballot, choosing from a list of retired judges proposed by Knesset members.

The party insists that the investigation team be composed of bereaved family members, hostage representatives, and individuals directly affected by October 7 - to take an active part in the commission.

"We owe this to the fallen and their families, to the wounded, and to our children, in order to ensure that such a thing never happens again. We can bring about a commission that investigates truthfully and is accepted by all parts of the nation. We will lead an inquiry commission untainted by interests," the party's statement concluded.