Israeli Opposition Demands Knesset Speaker Ouster, Cites Majority Support

According to Srugim, the move was initiated by Avigdor Lieberman, with faction chairman Oded Forer sending the official request to Ohana. However, Ynet and Cursorinfo reported that Gadi Eisenkot leads Yisrael Beiteinu and is driving the effort to leverage the opposition's parliamentary majority. The demand has garnered support from the Yashar, Democrats, and Joint List factions, with the opposition holding a majority of 67 seats in the new 120-seat Knesset.

Speaker Ohana stated he will not obstruct the procedure if proper rules are followed, though he dismissed reports of his resistance as conspiracy theories. He noted that while the customary time to elect a speaker is after a government is formed, he will schedule a debate within a week if at least 61 Knesset members formally request it in writing. This political maneuvering occurs as President Isaac Herzog consults with factions on forming a government, during which the United Torah Judaism party broke its traditional alliance with Benjamin Netanyahu by declining to recommend a prime minister.