Eisenkot Moves to Seize Knesset Committee Control Before Government Talks

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar coalition, is preparing to take control of parliamentary committees and key Knesset positions even before formal government formation negotiations begin. One of Eisenkot's anticipated first moves is the establishment of a "Special Committee for the State Commission of Inquiry Law." The aim is to establish a state commission to investigate the October 7th events through a Knesset-passed law, rather than a government decision. Leaders of the "change bloc" parties have also agreed to create six to eight special parliamentary committees focused on legislative changes. These committees will work to repeal laws enacted during the judicial overhaul and advance urgent initiatives using the opposition's parliamentary majority. Eisenkot stated, "We must use the parliamentary majority we have in the Knesset and get to work." These new committees will be in addition to the transfer of leadership of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and the Finance Committee to representatives of the change bloc parties. Concurrently, opposition parties are demanding the replacement of the current Knesset speaker, planning to gather over 61 signatures for this purpose. An associate of Eisenkot indicated that a candidate for the new Knesset speaker will be agreed upon by the parties and a final decision made by November 8th. Government formation talks are scheduled to take place at the Dan Accadia Hotel in Herzliya, where the leaders of the change bloc recently met. Eisenkot's initial step will be signing coalition agreements with the three bloc parties, including a commitment that any minority government formed will be temporary, intended for subsequent coalition expansion. However, the Yisrael Beiteinu party is expected to oppose this arrangement, with leader Avigdor Lieberman having repeatedly stated his refusal to join a coalition with Arab parties. The Joint Arab List officially announced its recommendation of Gadi Eisenkot for prime minister, giving him 67 recommendations compared to Benjamin Netanyahu's 46. Eisenkot explained that the minority government would last even less time than the previous "change government."