Eisenkot plans Knesset takeover via special committees

Yashar! party chairman Gadi Eisenkot is advancing a rapid parliamentary maneuver aimed at seizing control of key Knesset committees and power centers before coalition negotiations conclude. Leaders of the change bloc are assembling 6 to 8 special committees to operate simultaneously, to repeal the judicial reform laws and advance urgent legislation from the bloc, exploiting the parliamentary majority in the Knesset.

At the same time, a parliamentary workaround is being planned to establish a state commission of inquiry into the October 7th events. Rather than wait for a government decision, the plan calls for creating a "special committee for a state inquiry commission law." The goal is to establish an inquiry commission by force of law enacted in the Knesset through the parliamentary majority.

In addition, the change bloc is demanding immediate appointment of its representatives to chair the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and the Finance Committee. Signatures are also being collected from more than 61 MKs to replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, with the agreed candidate expected to be determined by Sunday.

Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman sent an official letter demanding that the vote to replace Knesset Speaker Ohana be held next Tuesday. According to estimates, Ohana will convene the Knesset to elect a new speaker about a week later.

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana responded: "To the party leaders, Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Yosef Jabareen, Yair Golan, Mansour Abbas, and Avigdor Liberman: The accepted date for electing a Knesset speaker is the date of government formation." He added: "The exception, if a letter is submitted bearing the signatures of a majority of MKs (at least 61 MKs), requesting to elect a speaker at an earlier date. As I have already replied, including publicly, we will respect the members of Knesset and if a majority requests to hold such a discussion, I will schedule it for an early date and no later than a week."

Opposition from the Right

Eisenkot is advancing the signing of coalition agreements with three bloc parties (Beachad, Yisrael Beiteinu and the Democrats), alongside a commitment that a minority governmentm if formed, would be temporary only, for the purpose of expanding it later.

However, Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman is expressing fierce opposition to a minority government leaning on the Arab parties. Liberman published a statement clarifying his party's position: "We will not sit with Bibi and not with Tibi, not with Goldknopf and not with Deri. Not with Yasser Khojeirat and not with other terror supporters. Not directly and not indirectly."

Liberman presented his party's preconditions for joining a coalition: "The only coalition under consideration is a coalition composed solely of Zionist parties, including Likud without Bibi." He warned that a government leaning on the Arab parties would lead to rapid collapse and strengthen the Likud.

The parliamentary moves are advancing against the backdrop of the completion of the round of recommendations to the president. The Joint List announced to President Isaac Herzog that it would recommend Eisenkot to form the next government. The decision gives Eisenkot a majority of 67 recommenders, compared to only 46 recommenders for Netanyahu.