New Knesset Swears In Amid Coalition and Speaker Battles

The 26th Knesset began its term on Tuesday with members taking the constitutional oath, amidst political anticipation over the next Knesset speaker and the outcome of negotiations to form a new Israeli government. Gadi Eisenkot, leading the 'Change bloc,' has been working to broaden support, while Avigdor Lieberman seeks to bring in Haredi parties and exclude Arab parties from any coalition or external support. Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for a national unity government under his leadership.

Eisenkot and Lieberman have reached an understanding that the next Knesset speaker will be from Eisenkot's party, potentially Eisenkot himself, replacing the current speaker Amir Ohana. This agreement is part of the Change bloc's strategy to control the Knesset's agenda and advance new legislation, even before the new government is fully formed. The speaker's position is seen as crucial for influencing parliamentary proceedings.

However, the understanding between Eisenkot and Lieberman has not resolved the complex issue of coalition composition. A key point of contention is whether to rely on the support of Arab parties or to court Haredi parties. Lieberman has urged Eisenkot to abandon the option of a minority government supported by Arab parties, promising to work on including Haredi parties instead. He argued that such a government would keep Netanyahu under constant political pressure but could last its full term. Lieberman also stated he does not aspire to the premiership, suggesting it should go to Eisenkot.

Naftali Bennett has remained silent on the ongoing negotiations, despite meeting with Eisenkot. Concerns exist within his party about compromising electoral pledges, particularly regarding funding for those who do not serve in the military or civil service. Knesset member Yonatan Halevi emphasized his party's commitment to prioritizing the interests of those who serve, stating that the previous government harmed them. Keren Turner, former Director General of the Ministries of Finance and Transportation, echoed this sentiment, aiming for a government that serves citizens and reorders priorities to focus on service members.

The Haredi party United Torah Judaism is a focal point for the Change bloc's efforts to secure their inclusion. While party leaders have avoided public statements, their press outlets suggest an openness to political options. The newspaper 'Hamodia' indicated that participation in government is not an end in itself, but rather a means to ensure the continued study of Torah and the status of yeshiva students, especially amidst the debate over military conscription exemptions for Haredim. The party is demanding concrete guarantees, not just written pledges, due to past unfulfilled agreements with Netanyahu. This reflects dissatisfaction with Netanyahu's previous coalition commitments regarding Haredi demands, including the conscription law, where they seek assurances against Supreme Court nullification.

Despite these indicators, negotiations between the Change bloc and United Torah Judaism are in early stages. Netanyahu's Likud has also been in contact with the party, attempting to prevent its alignment with the Change bloc and arranging a meeting between Netanyahu and party leader Rabbi Dov Lando, which Lando refused. An earlier proposal for MK Yaakov Asher to serve as interim speaker to appease the Haredi party was dropped following the Eisenkot-Lieberman agreement.

Netanyahu has revived his proposal for a national unity government led by him, aiming to counter Eisenkot's moves. He invited all parties from his current government and others to discuss unity, emphasizing that the largest party, Likud, should lead. He stressed the importance of including all Zionist parties to face future challenges. The Change bloc views these unity calls as pressure tactics to push them into joining a Netanyahu-led government, but trust issues stemming from past failed agreements, like the one involving Beni Gantz and Aryeh Deri, remain a significant obstacle.