Israeli Knesset Faces Pivotal Week of Votes and Legislation
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
The Israeli Knesset is set for a critical week with the "change bloc" planning to advance legislation and replace the Knesset Speaker. Key votes are expected on Tuesday for the Speaker position and Wednesday for legislative changes. Prime Minister Netanyahu is pushing for a unity government, while negotiations with Haredi parties are ongoing and could influence the bloc's decisions.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- The Knesset faces a pivotal week of votes and legislative action by the "change bloc."
- The "change bloc" plans to vote on a new Knesset Speaker on Tuesday.
- Legislation to weaken the Attorney General's power and change judicial appointments is slated for Wednesday.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu is urging Gadi Eisenkot to form a unity government.
- Haredi parties are key to negotiations, with their votes seen as a bargaining chip.
The Knesset is bracing for a decisive week as the "change bloc" prepares to advance legislation and potentially replace the current Knesset Speaker. The bloc aims to push through two bills on Wednesday: one to revoke the law weakening the Attorney General's authority and another to alter the composition of the Judicial Appointments Committee. The replacement of the current Speaker, Amir Ohana, is scheduled for Tuesday, a move that the change bloc believes will enable further legislative actions.
Negotiations are ongoing for the Knesset Speaker position, with Matan Kahana of the change bloc being considered. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly making significant efforts to secure the support of United Torah Judaism against Kahana's candidacy. The Haredi parties have not yet committed to how they will vote, intending to leverage their decision as a bargaining chip in ongoing negotiations with both blocs.
Meanwhile, Gadi Eisenkot is seriously considering forming a government with the support of the Haredi parties, a shift prompted by Avigdor Lieberman's veto on cooperating with Arab parties. These negotiations are marked by deep mistrust, with both sides wary of last-minute withdrawals. The possibility of engaging with the Haredi parties provides Eisenkot with leverage against Lieberman, particularly given Lieberman's refusal to sit in a government with Arab parties, thus potentially averting new elections.
Netanyahu has intensified his calls for a unity government with Eisenkot, this time omitting his previous demand for a rotation in the Prime Minister's office. His proposal includes the Haredi parties, with the conscription issue to be addressed later, an apparent effort to prevent them from joining the change bloc.
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