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Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc is seeking to replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, an ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a move intended to advance legislation that could prevent the incumbent prime minister from forming or leading a government, Israeli media reported. Anadolu Agency reported the developments.
The newly elected Knesset is due to hold its first session on Tuesday, when lawmakers will be sworn in.
Eisenkot and Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, agreed on Monday to nominate a speaker from Eisenkot’s Yashar party, Channel 12 reported. A candidate is expected to be named after consultations with other parties in the bloc.
Bloc seeks control of legislative agenda
Replacing Ohana would give the bloc greater control over the legislative agenda while Eisenkot negotiates to form a governing coalition, according to Israeli media reports.
The bloc’s priorities include barring politicians facing criminal indictments from forming or leading a government, establishing a state commission of inquiry into the October 2023 attacks on Israel by the Palestinian group Hamas, and repealing legislation from Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul.
The proposed ban would affect Netanyahu, who is on trial for bribery, fraud and breach of trust but has not been convicted.
Eisenkot’s four-party bloc holds 48 of the Knesset’s 120 seats, short of the 61 votes needed to replace Ohana.
Coalition talks and speaker vote
The ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party rejected Yashar’s request for support on Monday, arguing that a new speaker should be chosen when a government is formed.
Sources close to Eisenkot told Channel 14 that he was prepared to seek backing from Arab parties, which hold 19 seats. They said keeping Ohana as speaker would obstruct the bloc’s legislative plans.
President Isaac Herzog formally tasked Eisenkot with forming a government on Sunday after he received recommendations from 67 lawmakers, compared with 46 for Netanyahu.
Eisenkot has 28 days to form a government, with a possible extension of up to 14 days.
