Knesset Passes Politically-Appointed October 7 Inquiry Bill 59-0 in First Reading Amid Opposition Boycott

On July 6, 2026, the Knesset voted 59-0 to pass the Kallner bill — establishing a politically-appointed probe into the October 7 failures — in the first of three required readings. Opposition lawmakers, who want a commission not appointed by politicians, boycotted the vote entirely, allowing the coalition-backed bill to pass unanimously among those present. Under the bill sponsored by Likud MK Ariel Kallner, the six-member commission would be appointed with the backing of 80 Knesset members; failing that threshold, the panel would be split three-and-three between coalition and opposition appointees, with no judges permitted. The bill returns to the Knesset Constitution Committee for further discussion ahead of final readings expected before the Knesset's July 17 dissolution. Legal analysts note the bill is not expected to become law in the current Knesset, but the coalition pushed the first-reading vote through specifically to preserve it under the Knesset's 'continuity rule,' allowing the next parliament to resume the legislation from this stage rather than starting over.