Politics · Other · 2 hrs ago
Israel’s opposition seeks Knesset speaker role to challenge Netanyahu
Israel’s new 120-member Knesset takes office on November 10, while Benjamin Netanyahu remains caretaker prime minister.
Opposition parties want to replace speaker Amir Ohana, a close ally of Netanyahu, in an early test of their influence.
The speaker controls the legislature’s agenda, and parliamentary rules allow a vote on a successor during the opening session, before a new government is sworn in.
The opposition bloc has 67 seats, including 19 lawmakers from Arab-majority parties, while Netanyahu’s bloc has 53.
Gadi Eisenkot is trying to form a government after receiving a mandate from President Isaac Herzog, but divisions over whether to work with Arab-led parties make that difficult.
More than 160 former security officials have warned of possible attempts by rightwing activists to disrupt the swearing-in.
A new speaker could help the opposition act against Netanyahu, including by pursuing an inquiry into the October 7 attacks and reversing some of his government’s laws.
Israel’s opposition plans to seek the Knesset speaker’s role as it looks for ways to challenge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The new Parliament is due to be sworn in on Nov. 10, when lawmakers can vote for a speaker.
The incumbent, Amir Ohana, is a Netanyahu ally, and the speaker has influence over the legislature’s agenda.
Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot received a mandate to try to form a government, but neither his bloc nor Netanyahu’s has a majority.
The opposition is divided over whether to work with Arab-majority parties, whose lawmakers oppose Netanyahu.
The sources give different seat counts for the opposition: the Guardian says the parties hold 67 seats, while the Straits Times puts Eisenkot’s core bloc at 48.
- Who
- Opposition lawmakers, including Gadi Eisenkot’s bloc, are seeking the Knesset speaker role. Incumbent Amir Ohana is a Netanyahu ally.
- What
- The new Parliament is expected to elect a speaker, a post that can influence its agenda. The opposition sees the role as a way to challenge Netanyahu.
- When
- The new Knesset is due to be sworn in on Nov. 10, 2026.
- Where
- Israel’s Knesset, in Jerusalem.
- Why
- The speaker can influence the legislature’s agenda, giving the opposition a way to act against Netanyahu while it tries to form a government.
Israel’s opposition
Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies
Speaker election
Israel’s opposition
The opposition seeks to replace incumbent Amir Ohana, a Netanyahu ally.
Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies
Netanyahu’s side has Ohana in the role; the sources do not state its position on the proposed replacement.
Government formation
Israel’s opposition
Eisenkot is seeking to form a government to unseat Netanyahu.
Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies
Netanyahu remains caretaker prime minister while no new government has been formed.
Cooperation with Arab-majority parties
Israel’s opposition
Some opposition parties oppose working with Palestinian-led parties, while others see their support as important to forming a government.
Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies
Netanyahu’s bloc has 53 seats, according to the Straits Times; the article does not describe a specific position on opposition cooperation.
Three parties in Eisenkot’s bloc sent letters to the outgoing Knesset speaker requesting that a successor be elected at the opening session.
President Isaac Herzog gave Eisenkot the mandate to form a new government.
Israel’s new Knesset is due to be sworn in, with a speaker election possible during its inaugural session.
- Parliament size
- 120 seats
- Incumbent speaker
- Amir Ohana
- Eisenkot’s mandate
- Given by President Isaac Herzog on Nov. 8
- Netanyahu’s bloc
- 53 seats, according to the Straits Times
- Arab-majority parties
- 19 lawmakers in the new Parliament
2 sources
What people are saying
does not infringe upon the Knesset’s prerogatives
creative and unconventional political acts
No one will be able to fulfil all the [campaign] promises they made, and all of us will need to compromise. That is also leadership, to know when to decide and set priorities
Has the End of Times arrived?