Knesset Committee Work Delayed Amid Political Maneuvering
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
Knesset committee work, including the foreign affairs and defense committee led by Avigdor Lieberman, has been delayed until at least November 16 due to Likud's conditions for finalizing their formation. A vote for the new Knesset Speaker is set for November 17. Meanwhile, Gadi Eisenkot has warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against making military decisions without parliamentary oversight, a stance countered by Defense Minister Israel Katz.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Knesset committee work is delayed until at least November 16 due to Likud's conditions.
- Avigdor Lieberman is slated to chair the foreign affairs and defense committee.
- A vote for the new Knesset Speaker is scheduled for November 17.
- Gadi Eisenkot warned Netanyahu against military decisions without parliamentary oversight.
- Defense Minister Israel Katz asserted the government's authority on security operations.
- A public dispute continues between Eisenkot and Netanyahu over security force usage.
The establishment of a temporary Knesset committee for foreign affairs and defense, approved on Wednesday, November 11, will not convene until at least Monday, November 16. The delay stems from a condition set by the Likud party to finalize the committee formation process. The official appointment of Avigdor Lieberman, head of Yisrael Beiteinu, as the committee's chairman is pending. Other new Knesset committees also face work stoppages due to resistance from the outgoing coalition. Likud has reportedly made the delay in the new parliamentary committees' commencement a prerequisite for completing their formation.
The hold-up occurred when the "Change Bloc" requested to interrupt a plenum session to convene the Knesset's organizational committee and approve new committee chairmen. Netanyahu's bloc agreed, but the procedure requires reconvening the plenum to formally announce the chairmen's election. At this point, Likud indicated they would only agree to a plenum session controlled by outgoing Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana if the new committees did not meet before November 16.
Meanwhile, the vote for a new Knesset Speaker is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, at 4:00 PM. Avigdor Lieberman stated on November 10 his intention to question the Shin Bet chief and police inspector general about foreign interference in elections during the first defense committee meeting. He also warned on November 12 against the outgoing government making military decisions without parliamentary oversight, emphasizing the need for full agreement from all security branches.
Separately, a public dispute continues between Gadi Eisenkot and Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the use of security forces during the transition of power. Eisenkot sent an unusual letter to Netanyahu on November 11, citing media reports of a potential escalation with Iran based on political rather than military considerations. Eisenkot urged "restraint and caution," warning that military decisions without an immediate security threat could have "devastating consequences for Israeli democracy and public trust."
Defense Minister Israel Katz responded on November 12, asserting that the government does not require opposition permission for IDF operations in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, or Judea and Samaria. He stated that Israel's security is not in transition and that the Prime Minister and Defense Minister are responsible for security decisions with necessary oversight.
Eisenkot also requested the Attorney General to compel Netanyahu to brief him on security matters. Following the new Knesset's swearing-in, Yair Lapid ceased being Opposition Leader, with no successor yet appointed. Netanyahu claimed he had initiated a meeting with Eisenkot prior to Eisenkot's request, but no such meeting has been reported.
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