Full coverage· Politics· Updated 10 Nov, 19:09

Knesset Speaker Sets Vote for New Speaker for Next Tuesday

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana has scheduled a vote to elect his successor for Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 4:00 PM. The decision follows an unusual request signed by 67 Members of Knesset from the "Change bloc" led by Gadi Eisenkot, which exceeds the 61-member majority required to compel such a vote under a March 2020 Supreme Court ruling.

5 newsrooms · 3 languages · since 10 Nov, 18:33

Plus

Knesset Speaker Sets Vote for New Speaker for Next Tuesday — Illustration by baba

Watch · 1 clip

Clips the newsrooms posted about this story. They play from YouTube, Instagram, Telegram, TikTok and X.

What happened

01Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana scheduled a vote to elect his successor for Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 4:00 PM.
02The vote was requested by 67 Members of Knesset from the Gadi Eisenkot-led "Change bloc."
03Matan Kahana of the "Yashar!" party has been nominated by the opposition to replace Ohana as Speaker.
04A March 2020 Supreme Court ruling mandates that the Speaker must hold a vote if 61 MKs demand it.
05Ohana criticized the timing, claiming the early vote aims to pass legislation expanding the Attorney General's powers.
06The Change bloc's leadership agreements slate Roi Folkman, Avigdor Lieberman, and Liran Avissar Ben Horin for committee leadership roles.

The Change bloc has nominated Matan Kahana of the "Yashar!" party to replace Ohana. If elected, Kahana is expected to serve as Speaker for the duration of the Knesset's term. The vote is separate from the process of forming a government, and the Change bloc aims to secure leadership roles and control the Knesset's administration. Under their agreements, Roi Folkman, Avigdor Lieberman, and Liran Avissar Ben Horin are slated for committee leadership positions.

Speaker Ohana strongly criticized the timing of the vote, which is traditionally held when a new government is sworn in. He asserted that the early vote is politically motivated and aimed at passing legislation to expand the powers of the Attorney General, which he warned would deepen the imbalance between elected officials and the civil service. Despite his objections, Ohana pledged to respect the majority's demand and proceed with the vote.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 5 newsrooms. Updated 01:02

Latest report: Hamal. Read Hamal’s original