Coalition Forces Delay Knesset Committee Meetings Amid Political Maneuvering

The establishment of a temporary Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee was approved on Wednesday, but its first meeting has been postponed until at least Monday. The delay stems from a condition set by the Likud party to complete the procedural steps for forming new Knesset committees. The official appointment of Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman as head of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is still pending, and other new Knesset committees will also not begin their work until the procedures are finalized.

The delay was initiated when the "Change Bloc" requested to halt plenum discussions to convene the organizing committee and approve the new committee chairs. The Netanyahu bloc agreed, but following the organizing committee's meeting, an additional Knesset plenum session was required for the official announcement of the chairpersons' election, as per Knesset regulations. The Likud then stated they would only agree to the plenum session, managed by Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, if the new committees did not convene before Monday. This effectively postpones the work of all new committees, including the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

This situation highlights the "Change Bloc's" reliance on the Netanyahu bloc for managing Knesset operations, as long as Amir Ohana remains Speaker. A vote for a new Speaker, supported by a majority of Knesset members, is scheduled for Tuesday at 4:00 PM.

Lieberman, designated to chair the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, warned that an interim government should not make decisions that could drag Israel into war without parliamentary oversight and the full agreement of all security elements. Following an unusual appeal from National Unity Chairman Gadi Eisenkot urging Netanyahu to exercise "restraint and caution" in operating security forces, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stated that no approval is needed from the opposition or any legal entity to direct the IDF for counter-terrorism operations in Gaza, defensive and offensive actions in Lebanon, maintaining a security zone in Syria, clearing a "terrorist neighborhood" in Hebron, and continuing offensive operations against terrorism in Judea and Samaria.

Katz added that Israel has demonstrated decisiveness and judgment in dealing with Iran in full coordination with the IDF, and will continue to do so as needed. He emphasized that Israel's security is not in transition and does not await political proceedings, asserting that there is one Prime Minister, one Defense Minister, and one government responsible for security decisions under existing oversight.