Liberman recommended to chair defense committee despite opposition

The Knesset Arrangements Committee, chaired by MK Roi Folkman (Yashar!), voted Wednesday to establish two temporary committees after a contentious debate. Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman was recommended to head the temporary Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, while MK Liran Avishar Ben Horin of the Yachad party was recommended to chair the temporary Finance Committee.

Both recommendations passed by a vote of 13 in favor to 9 against. Each committee will include 17 MKs. The votes constitute recommendations for committee chairs, not final appointments.

During the session, controversy erupted over Avishar Ben Horin's nomination to lead the Finance Committee, with members raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

Avishar Ben Horin addressed the objections directly, stating her willingness to accept stringent oversight: "The conflict-of-interest rules that apply in the government do not apply in the Knesset. And still I say, I am willing to apply to myself the most stringent rules. And if there is a matter I cannot deal with—I will not deal with it and will appoint someone else in my place."

Committee chairman Folkman opened the session by addressing MKs' conduct and calling for mutual respect even during disagreements.

"I'm not educating anyone, but there are norms and it's possible to behave with derech eretz. Style is style, but in the Knesset of Israel one must respect every person and his opinions. That's how you conduct a dispute for the sake of Heaven. I'm willing to hear the harshest things as long as they're said with respect," he said.

Earlier, the Knesset plenum approved the establishment of the Arrangements Committee itself, which comprises 22 MKs from all factions and is headed by Folkman. The committee then made the decisions to establish the two temporary committees and issued the recommendations for their chairs.