Despite falling short in this week’s election, the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot is already organizing to replace the Knesset speaker, with the backing of the Joint List and Ra’am.
It remains unclear to whom the president will give the mandate to form a government. The decision depends largely on the recommendations of the Arab parties and Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu. Naftali Bennett’s position is also uncertain, and the opposition has yet to agree on a candidate for prime minister.
In the meantime, opposition parties are working to install an alternative candidate as Knesset speaker. According to Kan News, the leading names are Oded Forer of Yisrael Beytenu and Elazar Stern of Eisenkot’s party.
The move would require agreement across the entire opposition bloc. It would also depend on the Arab parties, which won a record number of seats in the election and may demand concessions in return for their support.
