Eisenkot and Lieberman Agree on Next Knesset Speaker

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yisrael party, and Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, have reached a significant agreement regarding the next Knesset Speaker. They decided that the position will be given to a member of the Yisrael party, a departure from Lieberman's initial demand to appoint Yair Lapid. "The two expressed their full confidence in the ability to establish a stable government for four years," stated a release from the Yisrael faction after their meeting.

This agreement marks a turning point in coalition formation talks, following recent disagreements among the "Change Bloc" partners on this issue. The meeting occurred amidst ongoing negotiations between the "Change Bloc" and the ultra-Orthodox parties, particularly concerning the status of yeshiva students.

Eisenkot received the mandate to form a government from President Yitzhak Herzog on Monday, having secured recommendations from 67 Knesset members, including Arab parties. He has 28 days to form a government, with a deadline of December 6, 2026, and a possible 14-day extension.

Last week, Lieberman had formally requested a vote to replace the current Knesset Speaker, Amir Ohana, by the following Tuesday. However, following his meeting with Eisenkot, he appears willing to defer an immediate vote in exchange for the commitment that a Yisrael party representative will receive the speakership.

Earlier this week, a meeting of "Change Bloc" leaders at the Dan Accadia Hotel in Herzliya agreed to pursue Ohana's removal but did not reach a consensus on the next speaker's identity. That meeting included Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Lieberman, Yair Golan, and Yair Lapid, with the proposal to appoint Lapid to the role causing controversy.

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana stated that the standard procedure for electing a speaker occurs during government formation, unless a request signed by at least 61 MKs is submitted for an earlier vote. He pledged to schedule such a debate if the majority requested it.

With the agreement between Eisenkot and Lieberman and the support of Arab parties, securing the 61-MK majority needed to replace Ohana is now considered likely. The remaining questions are the specific individual from the Yisrael party who will be chosen and the exact timing of the vote.

Simultaneously, negotiations with the ultra-Orthodox parties continue. A senior source in United Torah Judaism indicated that the coming days would clarify the political system's readiness for a settlement, calling it a "significant week" for cooperation with the "Change Bloc."