Opposition bloc aims to seize Knesset speaker seat to force Netanyahu's removal
Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot may take the role, a move that would strip the prime minister of his main legislative control.
By Jenna Mitchell ·
The new Israeli parliament convenes on Tuesday with the primary goal of removing Benjamin Netanyahu from power by seizing control of the legislative agenda.
The opposition bloc holds 67 seats in the 120-member Knesset, a majority sufficient to replace the current speaker. Amir Ohana, a close ally of the prime minister, currently holds the position and controls the flow of bills. Gadi Eisenkot, the former military chief, received a presidential mandate at the weekend to form a coalition government. Israeli media reported on Monday that Eisenkot may assume the speaker role himself. If he does not, parties in his Yashar group have agreed to nominate one of their own.
Security officials express concern about potential disruptions during the swearing-in ceremony. A group of more than 160 retired senior security leaders, including former heads of the military, intelligence, and police, issued a warning on Monday. The forum, known as the Democracy’s Protective Wall, told serving security chiefs that right-wing activists planned violent attacks to block entry to the building.
The letter stated that opponents intend to prevent members of the Knesset and their family members from entering on the day of the ceremony. It noted that these actors are encouraging tens of thousands of supporters to join the effort, according to the Ma’ariv newspaper. The opposition parties describe Netanyahu as a threat to the state and are eager to begin legislative action despite internal divisions.
Several Jewish-Israeli parties in the change bloc have vowed not to govern with Palestinian-led parties, which hold 19 seats and over a quarter of the bloc's total. Eisenkot has promised to create a national emergency government through creative political acts. He warned that some campaign promises would need to be broken to achieve this goal.
No one will be able to fulfil all the campaign promises they made, and all of us will need to compromise. That is also leadership, to know when to decide and set priorities, he said. Protests have taken place across the country, urging leaders to prioritize removing Netanyahu over excluding Palestinian partners from the government.
Avigdor Lieberman, a right-wing opposition leader, is pursuing an alternative path by seeking an alliance with ultra-Orthodox parties. These groups have long supported Netanyahu but are frustrated by his failure to pass broad military draft exemptions. Lieberman has campaigned for universal conscription but appears willing to compromise on the issue to avoid working with Palestinian-led parties.
Arye Erlich, a leading Haredi journalist, questioned whether Lieberman could suddenly agree to sit in a coalition with ultra-Orthodox partners. He wrote in a column for Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper that this might mark a turning point in Israeli politics. Even if Eisenkot brokers a deal, he may delay announcing it until the speaker seat is secured. Ohana can delay signing a new government for up to a week, a window that opposition leaders fear gives Netanyahu time to fracture any fragile agreement.
If Eisenkot fails to form a government, the mandate passes to other leaders, and Israel must hold new elections if they also fail. Netanyahu and his allies would remain in a caretaker role during this period. Gideon Rahat, chair in political science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, noted that once an alternative government is established, it becomes harder to destabilize. He stated that even a minority government would be governing, making it difficult to oust them.
