Knesset Speaker Ohana Sets Vote on His Replacement for Next Week

By מורן אזולאי

Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba

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Hebrew · 1 newsroom

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana will hold a vote to replace him next Tuesday, following a request from 67 lawmakers in the "Change bloc." Ohana opposes the bloc's legislative agenda but will respect the majority's decision. Gadi Eisenkot reportedly designated Matan Kahana as the bloc's candidate for speaker. The vote follows a precedent set by a 2020 High Court ruling regarding a similar request to replace then-Speaker Yuli Edelstein.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana scheduled a vote for his replacement for next Tuesday.
The "Change bloc" submitted a request signed by 67 lawmakers to hold the vote.
Matan Kahana is reportedly designated as the "Change bloc's" candidate for speaker.
The vote aims to allow the "Change bloc" to control parliamentary proceedings.
A 2020 High Court ruling mandates immediate votes upon a 61-MK request.

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana announced Tuesday that a vote to replace him will be held next Tuesday, the last possible day under established procedure. The "Change bloc" submitted a request signed by 67 lawmakers to hold the vote. Ohana stated that while he strongly opposes the bloc's intention to advance legislation that would grant significant power to the Attorney General, he will honor the majority's will.

Reports indicate that Gadi Eisenkot informed the Change bloc leaders that Matan Kahana from his party will be the next Knesset Speaker. Eisenkot initially considered the role for himself but ultimately decided Kahana would hold it during coalition formation talks, partly due to criticism that a speaker should be familiar with Knesset operations.

The Change bloc aims to replace Ohana to control parliamentary proceedings, advance legislation, and repeal laws passed by the previous government before the new one is sworn in.

According to law, the current speaker can serve during a transition period, with elections for a new speaker to occur no later than the formation of a new government. However, a High Court of Justice ruling from 2020, stemming from a similar situation involving Yuli Edelstein, established that if 61 lawmakers demand a vote for a new speaker, it must be held immediately before the government is sworn in.

In 2020, Edelstein refused to schedule a vote requested by 61 MKs, citing efforts to form a unity government. After a High Court petition, judges ordered him to convene the plenum, but Edelstein resigned and adjourned the session without setting a date. The following day, Benny Gantz was elected speaker. He served briefly before Yariv Levin replaced him in May 2020.