Sources close to Gadi Eisenkot shut down any deal with Liberman over the speakership, making clear there is one candidate they will not accept in the role: It's not going to happen
A new crisis has erupted inside the Change bloc. Senior figures in Gadi Eisenkot's party made clear Monday evening that "Lapid will not be Knesset speaker. We will not let that happen. Choosing him means killing almost every option for forming a government," according to a report by Amit Segal.
Segal reported that Liberman's move was not coordinated with the Yachad party or with Naftali Bennett.
Earlier Monday, and parallel to coalition talks, Liberman set the replacement of current Knesset speaker Amir Ohana as a central political goal. "There is no place to leave Amir Ohana as Knesset speaker. We will do everything to replace him," he said.
Liberman revealed that Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid had expressed to him his desire to be appointed to the role, and announced that Yisrael Beiteinu would support his candidacy. "Lapid told me he wants to be Knesset speaker, and we will support his candidacy," he said.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of a dispute within the Change bloc over the identity of the candidate for the position, particularly Eisenkot's desire that the role remain with his party. Liberman explained that replacing the Knesset speaker is critical also because of the impact on the selection of the next state comptroller and on the parliamentary agenda.
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