President Isaac Herzog stated that a state commission of inquiry needs to be established into the October 7 massacre, arguing it is the "right path," which must be done "urgently."
These comments came at a conference organized by the October Council, a forum of hostages' families and bereaved families, in Tel Aviv on Sunday, titled "Two Years Without Answers," which was attended by Herzog, hostage and bereaved families, wounded IDF soldiers, Gaza border community residents, former Israel Police commissioner Roni Alsheikh, former justice ministers Dan Meridor and Meir Sheetrit, as well as others.
Participants at the conference discussed how to move forward in their push for a state commission of inquiry against political figures, who they claimed were attempting to block it.
"The October 7 massacre is a national disaster in every sense of the word, first and foremost a brutal and barbaric attack by a vile terrorist organization," Herzog commented.
One of the goals behind establishing a Jewish State of Israel was "so we could defend ourselves, prevent, warn, and repel every enemy," Herzog said, affirming his belief that this is the responsibility of the state.
Herzog also addressed the bereaved families in attendance, saying that the massacre was "not inevitable" and that it "could and should have been prevented."
The commission is key to identifying the root causes of the failures on that day and addressing them so that they will not recur, Herzog said.
In his view, Herzog told the conference participants that not establishing a state commission would be a grave mistake.
"A commission of inquiry is not only a professional tool but also an opportunity for correction, healing, and the beginning of the recovery process that Israeli society and the families who lost their loved ones so desperately need," he added.
Rafi Ben Shitrit, former Beit She'an mayor, founding member of the October Council, and father of St.-Sgt. Alroy Ben Shitrit, who fell defending the Nahal Oz outpost from Hamas terror infiltrators, also spoke at the conference.
He denounced his "brothers and sisters in Likud," asking how they can, in his opinion, continue "lending a hand to attempts to evade responsibility" and for continuing to "remain silent and back a policy of denial and concealment."
"Certain figures are being smeared to clear others," Alsheikh told the crowd, referring to investigations against then-Shin Be (Israel Security Agency) chief Ronen Bar.
Bar was "among the first to take responsibility and admit failure," Alsheikh noted, adding that "the damage to the security system is catastrophic across the board – in the police, in the Shin Bet, and extending into the army."
Meridor called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government the "most failed government in the history of Israel, which brought upon us the greatest disaster in Israel's history, and continues to sink into the mud."
Inquiry is 'not an option; it is an obligation,' former justice minister Dan Meridor states
Meridor also called for the establishment of a state inquiry, noting that it is "not an option; it is an obligation." As an example, he referred to the commission inquiry into the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre in Beirut during the First Lebanon War, noting that then-prime minister Menachem Begin resigned "because he felt the pain and responsibility."
In Meridor's opinion, this highlights the "absence of leadership we see today."
Sheetrit directly addressed Netanyahu in their speech, asking, "What are you afraid of?"
"If everything is fine and you simply were not woken up in the morning," as Netanyahu has repeatedly claimed, "then tell that to the commission," Sheetrit demanded.
"If you knew nothing about the Qatari money, say that," he added, referring to the ongoing "Qatargate" investigation into corruption in the Prime Minister's Office.
"If you have nothing to fear, then establish a commission of inquiry. But apparently, you do have something to fear," Sheetrit alleged.