Eisenkot Bloc Secures First Knesset Victory With Organizational Committee Vote

Gadi Eisenkot's bloc achieved its first success in the 26th Knesset on Wednesday, November 11, when a majority of lawmakers approved the composition of the organizational committee. The proposal, put forward by commission chairman Roi Folkman of the Yashar party, passed with 63 votes in favor and 50 against, including support from Arab parties. A competing proposal from coalition head Ofir Katz of the Likud party, which would have favored Benjamin Netanyahu's camp, was defeated. The approved organizational committee will consist of 22 members, with representation allocated based on a quota of one member per five faction lawmakers. The Likud party will have the largest contingent with five seats, followed by Yashar with four. Other parties like Be'ahad, the United Arab List, Democrats, and Ra'am will each have two representatives, while NDI, Otzma Yehudit, Yahadut HaTorah, Shas, and Religious Zionism will each have one. The organizational committee holds significant power during the transition period between elections and the formation of a new government. It is responsible for approving the composition of permanent parliamentary committees and can establish temporary bodies, including the finance and foreign affairs and defense committees, before permanent ones are finalized. The committee also handles various organizational and procedural matters for the Knesset. Following the vote, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged Netanyahu and Eisenkot to begin negotiations on government principles, while firmly rejecting any coalition that includes Arab parties. Earlier, Eisenkot's Yashar faction had submitted eight legislative proposals to the new Knesset.