Leaders of the Change Bloc parties have reached agreement on the division of key Knesset posts for the 26th Knesset, ahead of the swearing-in and during the mandate period for forming a government.
Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, Avigdor Liberman, Yair Golan, and Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot finalized the appointments in a move designed to secure control of the parliamentary agenda and central power points in the Knesset building before the government itself is formed.
Under the agreement, the following MKs will be nominated for the main positions:
- Knesset speaker: former minister and incoming MK Matan Kahana
- Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee: former defense minister MK Avigdor Liberman
- Chairwoman of the temporary Finance Committee: incoming MK Liran Avishar Ben Horin
- Chairman of the Arrangements Committee: incoming MK Roi Folkman
The composition of the various committees will be discussed and finalized in Arrangements Committee sessions during the week, and brought for final approval by the Knesset plenum on Wednesday.
Eisenkot initially wanted to keep the Knesset speaker position for himself, but ultimately decided that Kahana would hold the post, at least during the coalition negotiations. The decision came in part after criticism that the speaker should be someone familiar with Knesset procedures.
