Bennett's Yachad eyes Knesset Speaker if Eisenkot becomes PM

Naftali Bennett's Yachad party is already preparing for the possibility that Gadi Eisenkot will head Israel's next government. According to a report tonight (Sunday) by political correspondent Nadav Eliamlich on i24NEWS, the party has drawn up a fallback plan for the scenario in which Eisenkot forms the coalition, and in that case they will seek the position of Knesset Speaker.

According to the report, Bennett himself still aims to serve as prime minister, but his party is also examining the possibility that the change bloc will succeed in forming a government under Eisenkot's leadership. In such a scenario, Yachad intends to demand one of the most senior positions in Israel's political system.

To justify the demand, Bennett's party plans to emphasize the parliamentary experience of its list members and their achievements during their Knesset tenure. This stands in contrast to Eisenkot's Yashar party, whose list is composed mainly of people who have not previously served in national-level government positions.

The report added that Yachad has already identified potential candidates for the Knesset Speaker role, though their names were not disclosed.

The move may face political obstacles, however. The Knesset Speaker position is considered one of the central roles in Israel's governing system, in part due to its authority over managing the Knesset's work and setting its agenda. Over the years, only in rare cases has the position been granted to a representative of a party outside the ruling coalition.