Opposition Bloc Seeks Control of Knesset Administration Before Government Formation
Translated & summarized from Arab48 by baba
Gadi Eisenkot's opposition bloc is moving to control the Knesset's administration before a new government is formed, aiming to replace Speaker Amir Ohana and secure a majority on the Arrangements Committee. Their plans include establishing investigative committees, repealing recent laws, and advancing legislative changes. The bloc seeks to leverage the government formation timeline to push its agenda through the Knesset.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Gadi Eisenkot's bloc seeks to control Knesset administration before new government formation.
- The bloc plans to replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana with Matan Kahana.
- They aim for a majority on the Arrangements Committee to establish temporary committees.
- Proposed committees include one to investigate October 7 failures without government approval.
- The opposition wants to repeal laws weakening the judiciary and media.
- The bloc plans to use the government formation period to advance legislation.
The opposition bloc, led by Gadi Eisenkot of the Yamina party, is aiming to gain control over the Knesset's administration before the formation of the next government. This move is intended to allow the new parliamentary majority to advance its agenda while Benjamin Netanyahu's government is still in office, potentially creating a situation where the outgoing government retains executive powers while the incoming majority operates independently.
The first step in this plan involves replacing Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. The opposition bloc intends to compel Ohana to schedule a session for electing a successor by gathering signatures from a majority of Knesset members. Ohana has stated that if such a request is submitted, he will convene a session within a week. The Knesset Speaker holds significant authority, including managing the plenum, conducting votes, setting the agenda, and overseeing legislative proposals.
The bloc has announced an agreement to appoint Matan Kahana, a Yamina party member, to the position. Concurrently, the opposition seeks a majority on the Arrangements Committee, with Roee Folkman of Yamina potentially chairing it. The committee would comprise nine members from Eisenkot's bloc and eight from Netanyahu's, empowering it to establish temporary and special committees before the government is officially formed.
Among the opposition's plans are the establishment of six to eight special committees. They also aim to advance legislation enabling the Knesset to form a formal investigative committee into the failures of October 7 without requiring government approval. Additionally, they intend to repeal laws enacted by the Netanyahu government, including those weakening the judiciary and media.
Plans are underway to establish a temporary Law and Constitution Committee, a special committee on the Police Investigations Department (Mahash) law, and a committee to repeal the law altering the composition of the committee for appointing judges. Changes are also planned for the law separating the Attorney General's role into two distinct positions. The opposition bloc intends to utilize the 28-day period for government formation, plus a possible 14-day extension, to push these legislative initiatives through before a new government is sworn in.
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