Report reveals: Netanyahu seeks to protect senior Israeli officials from October 7 Committee

SadaNews: Sources close to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reported to "Yedioth Ahronoth" that he is considering amending the "Official Investigation Committee Law" to abolish the clause that grants the committee the authority to issue personal recommendations against office holders. The proposed amendment also includes another option to restrict the committee's powers so that it cannot issue personal recommendations against specific individuals by the end of its work.

According to the proposal under discussion, the committee will not be authorized to issue recommendations against officials or public figures, including senior leaders of the security establishment and elected officials. Instead, its powers will be limited to providing institutional recommendations and structural reforms, without directly affecting individuals.

This approach comes in the wake of a decision by the Israeli Supreme Court that obliged the government to announce the formation of an official investigation committee into the events of October 7, 2023, by mid-November. This decision has prompted Netanyahu to intensify his focus on the issue in recent days, holding a series of preliminary meetings to establish the committee.

In a sharp political reaction, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized Netanyahu's attempts to amend the law, stating: "All of Netanyahu's hysterical attempts to evade responsibility for the worst massacre in our history will not suffice."

He added that Netanyahu was the Prime Minister on October 7, and that only the official investigation committee is capable of examining the reasons for his unpreparedness, his disregard for warnings, and his failure to perform his duty.