Israeli Opposition Bloc to Grant Knesset Vice-Chair Posts to Arab Parties
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
Israel's "Bloc of Change" has agreed to assign Knesset vice-presidential posts to Arab parties, including the Unified List and Ra'am, ahead of a key Speakership vote. This move grants Arab factions institutional roles and parliamentary influence. The bloc aims to replace the current Speaker, Amir Ohana, with Matan Kahana. The vote, scheduled for Tuesday, will test this new cooperation, which could alter parliamentary dynamics regardless of future government formation.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- The Bloc of Change will assign Knesset vice-president roles to Arab parties, including the Unified List and Ra'am.
- This agreement grants Arab parties institutional responsibilities previously denied to them.
- The move precedes a Tuesday vote to replace Likud's Amir Ohana as Knesset Speaker with Matan Kahana.
- Avigdor Lieberman is expected to head the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
- The Unified List and Ra'am may provide the Bloc of Change with a majority for the Speakership vote.
- Cooperation is currently limited to Knesset operations, not government participation.
Two days before a crucial vote for the Knesset Speakership, the "Bloc of Change" has reached an agreement to assign vice-presidential positions within the Israeli parliament to Arab political parties, including the Unified List and Ra'am. This move signifies a significant shift from the previous legislative session, where these parties held no such roles. The decision aims to grant these Arab factions institutional responsibilities they have previously been excluded from.
These vice-chair positions are not merely honorary. They involve participation in the Knesset's presidency, which oversees parliamentary work, including the scheduling of legislative proposals and urgent motions. Vice-presidents can also preside over plenary sessions in the Speaker's absence. This arrangement will allow Arab party representatives to engage more directly in managing parliamentary debates and legislative initiatives.
The agreement is part of broader negotiations within the Bloc of Change for strategic positions in the 26th Knesset. The immediate goal is to replace the current Likud Knesset Speaker, Amir Ohana, with Matan Kahana, a deputy from Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party. The vote is scheduled for Tuesday at 4 p.m., following a request supported by 67 lawmakers.
Other key appointments are also being discussed, with Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, slated to lead the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and Liran Avishar Ben-Horin being considered for the chairmanship of the Finance Committee. The deal on vice-presidencies reflects the parliamentary alignment between the Bloc of Change and Arab parties since the October 27 elections.
The Unified List and Ra'am have indicated their willingness to support a joint candidate for the Knesset Speaker position, potentially providing the Bloc of Change with the necessary majority for Tuesday's vote, even before a government coalition is formed. However, this cooperation is currently limited to Knesset operations, as some Bloc of Change leaders oppose the inclusion of Arab parties in a future government, while others are open to broader political partnerships.
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