Anti-Netanyahu Bloc Moves to Oust Speaker on Parliament’s Opening Day

Opponents of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are planning an initiative to replace Amir Ohana as Speaker of the Knesset on November 10, the opening day of the 26th Knesset. The opposition alliance, known as the ‘Change Bloc,’ comprises parties including Yesh Atid, Yisrael Beiteinu, and The Democrats, alongside the Arab-led Joint List and Ra’am. Together, these factions hold 67 seats in the 120-member parliament, providing them with the necessary majority to remove Ohana and elect a new parliamentary leader.

Barak Seri, a political analyst for Channel 12, reported on Friday that opposition parties have reached a consensus to oust Mr. Ohana on the day the new Knesset is sworn in. While Mr. Seri did not disclose the candidate for the position, several reports have pointed to former Prime Minister Yair Lapid as a potential contender. Political observers note that this strategic parliamentary maneuver is being pursued independently of ongoing and complex negotiations to form a governing coalition.

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats party, highlighted the bloc’s immediate roadmap during an interview with Channel 12 on Friday evening. Mr. Golan stated, ‘Our priority after the swearing-in of the 26th Knesset will be appointing a new Speaker.’ He further explained that following this appointment, the opposition will focus on selecting heads for parliamentary committees and establishing a formal state commission of inquiry into the October 7, 2023 attack led by Hamas.

Despite the mathematical majority, the success of the initiative remains uncertain due to hesitations from Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Liberman regarding political cooperation with Arab parties. Mr. Liberman has publicly declared that his party will not participate in a coalition government alongside Arab factions. To bypass this obstacle, opposition leaders are attempting to separate specific parliamentary votes from coalition building, urging Liberman’s party to abstain if they refuse to vote directly in favor of the proposal.

Mr. Golan also dismissed any possibility of partnering with the current leadership in a broader setup, asserting that a national unity government with Netanyahu’s Likud would simply amount to another Netanyahu-led administration. If the opposition succeeds in replacing the Speaker on opening day, they will secure crucial leverage over parliamentary operations and committee leadership ahead of government formation. However, the outcome ultimately hinges on inter-party consensus and voting alignments during the initial session.

Source: The Times of Israel