Netanyahu Slams ‘Deep State’ Amid Knesset Debate on State Commission of Inquiry

In a heated speech in the Knesset on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused what he referred to as the "deep state" of orchestrating baseless criminal investigations into him and his inner circle. Speaking directly to the opposition, Netanyahu expressed his frustration with the political and legal challenges he faces, claiming that their efforts to investigate him were driven by divisive incitement and hypocrisy.

"You who engage in divisive incitement and say terrible things about us, that we are sending the hostages to their deaths, you who incite so wildly, you accuse us of division. What hypocrisy," Netanyahu said, as he addressed the opposition.

The Prime Minister defended his position, stating, "The more desperate you become, the more scandals you create. The people are not stupid. Most of the people see everything that is happening here, the cooperation between the bureaucracy, the deep state... and it will not succeed here either."

As Netanyahu continued, he emphasized his refusal to bow down to what he called politically motivated investigations, noting that public opinion had shifted. "Once, when an investigation was opened, people said: Wow, this is serious. Today they ask: Who have they targeted? I do not bow my head. I will continue to demand an objective and balanced Commission of Inquiry," Netanyahu declared.

The speech was part of the ongoing "40 signatories’ debate," modeled after the British Prime Minister’s Question, where Netanyahu addressed the government’s stance on forming a State Commission of Inquiry. The official topic of the debate was the government’s refusal to establish such a commission, with Netanyahu asserting that any inquiry must have the trust of the majority of the people and not be influenced by the judiciary, which he claimed lacked political objectivity.

As Netanyahu spoke, the families of victims of the October 7 attack—who had been protesting for a State Commission of Inquiry—were seen turning their backs on the Prime Minister in the Knesset. These families, whose loved ones had been killed in the attack, demanded accountability from the government for the tragic loss of life.

In contrast, opposition leader MK Yair Lapid, from the Yesh Atid party, called for an apology from the government for its failures during the attack and the subsequent war. "There has never been a government here that has so many reasons to apologize," Lapid said, demanding the government take responsibility for the lives lost and the security failures that followed.

Following the debate, the United Right party, led by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, reaffirmed its position supporting a State Commission of Inquiry into the events of October 7. The party also proposed an amendment to the law that would ensure the appointment of commission members by the Supreme Court, increasing public trust in the process.

The debate continues as Netanyahu faces ongoing pressure from both the opposition and public, calling for transparency and accountability in the aftermath of the October 7 attack.