The government is expected to move forward on two contentious measures on Monday,
The Ministerial Committee for Legislation will debate Likud MK Ariel Kallner’s bill to establish an inquiry into the October 7 Hamas attack, and at the same time, the cabinet will be asked to decide on the proposed closure of the IDF’s Army Radio.
Supporters say the steps would ensure accountability and restore the military’s apolitical standing, while critics warn of politicization and legal challenges.
Knesset bill would put the Knesset, not Supreme Court in charge of appointing committee members
The Kallner bill seeks to establish an inquiry committee into the October 7 events, but not as a state commission of inquiry under existing law. Under the proposal, the committee would be established by the Knesset and the government rather than by the president of the Supreme Court, who typically appoints state commissions.
According to the draft, the committee would include six members appointed by the Knesset, with three from the coalition and three from the opposition. In addition, four representatives of bereaved families would be included as an oversight element for the committee’s work.
The bill outlines a mechanism for disputes. If no agreement is reached on the members’ identities or the chair within a set period, each bloc could appoint its own representatives. If there is no agreement on a single chair, the proposal allows the appointment of two co-chairs.
Coalition figures argue this framework would ensure a balanced and representative committee that enjoys broad public trust, without reliance on the judicial system.
Opposition voices and other critics say the move bypasses an independent state commission and risks creating a body perceived as political, established by those who may themselves be examined.
Critics contend that such a committee would struggle to reach the truth and that its conclusions could suffer from a public legitimacy deficit. They call instead for a fully independent state inquiry.
At Monday’s cabinet meeting, ministers will also vote on a separate, widely debated proposal to close Army Radio. Defense Minister Israel Katz is leading the move and seeks to implement the closure in stages, beginning with the appointment of a professional team to plan the process, assess implications for employees, and examine options to continue Army Radio's music station, Galgalatz, under another framework.
Backers of the plan say a military-run outlet should not broadcast current affairs and political content to the general public, arguing the change would return the IDF to a national, nonpolitical posture. Opponents warn of serious harm to press freedom and democratic space, noting the station’s longstanding editorial role and internal independence.
They add that closing the station by government decision alone, without comprehensive legislation and regulation, is likely to raise legal obstacles and could prompt petitions to the High Court of Justice.
Together, the two proposals point to a fraught political week that pits a public demand for a thorough and independent reckoning over October 7 against a move that could reshape Israel’s media landscape and test the limits of executive authority.