Israeli ex-army chief Gadi Eisenkot and his allies have launched a legislative onslaught against caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's legacy as a new parliament convened in a heated first session. Eisenkot's broad left-to-right bloc has set the Knesset's agenda with a green light from Arab-Israeli lawmakers, whose role has stirred up heated opposition from Netanyahu's base and even right-wing supporters of Eisenkot. The bloc submitted several proposals, including establishing an independent commission to investigate security failures that allowed the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
The proposal for an independent commission is a significant move, as Netanyahu has long opposed it. Eisenkot's Yashar party also moved for a sweeping repeal of a judicial overhaul implemented by Netanyahu's government, which had triggered some of Israel's largest-ever protests before being overshadowed by three years of war. The bloc announced it had enough votes in the 120-seat parliament to install a new speaker, Matan Kahana, also a former senior military figure.
The current speaker, Netanyahu ally Amir Ohana, granted a request from 67 Knesset members to hold a vote for his successor next Tuesday, despite his strong opposition to the intention of the emerging coalition. However, neither Eisenkot nor Netanyahu has the 61 votes needed to form a government. Eisenkot vowed to form a national-emergency government as quickly as possible, while Netanyahu made a new push for a national-unity government, citing the threat from Iran's clerical government.
Netanyahu's remarks were dismissed by Eisenkot as a "shameful" exploitation of the occasion, casting them as evidence that Netanyahu was "unfit to remain in office for even one more minute". Eisenkot also cancelled a meeting with Netanyahu's Likud party scheduled for Wednesday, accusing the premier of prioritizing "his own political survival". President Isaac Herzog, who has tasked Eisenkot with forming a government, urged lawmakers to "do everything to avoid a repeat election" and reach out for compromise.
The tone in the new parliament was immediately tense, with shouting breaking out between lawmakers. Eisenkot's choice for speaker is expected to sail through thanks to support from Arab-Israeli lawmakers, whose ranks grew to historic highs due to anger over Netanyahu's far-right government. However, Avigdor Liberman, a right-wing member of Eisenkot's bloc, has refused to serve in a government that relies on Arab-majority parties.
A number of Arab-Israeli lawmakers left the opening session during the national anthem so as to avoid standing for it. Liberman posted news of the walkout on social media, writing: "You want to form a government with them?" Far-right caretaker national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir loudly heckled Yousef Jabareen, leader of the Arab-majority Joint List, during the session. Mansour Abbas, leader of the Arab-Israeli party Raam, promised to work to replace the Netanyahu government.
Liberman has proposed an alliance with ultra-Orthodox Jews, despite his years of bitter denunciations of the community for its singular priority on maintaining an exemption from mandatory military service. Eisenkot's core bloc has 48 seats, but would achieve a majority if the 19 Arab-Israeli lawmakers either enter the government or vote for it without joining. Netanyahu publicly pleaded with the ultra-Orthodox to stay with him, warning that they would be disappointed if they joined Eisenkot's government.
Key points
- Eisenkot's bloc sets Knesset agenda with support from Arab-Israeli lawmakers
- Netanyahu and Eisenkot do not have the 61 votes needed to form a government
- Tensions run high in the new parliament, with shouting and walkouts reported
Reporting sources
- Eisenkot pushes October 7... · ModernGhana
