Israel’s newly elected parliament convened for its first session in Jerusalem today, with opposition parties taking swift action to challenge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership and legacy. The session marks a significant shift in Israeli politics, as opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot and his allies now control a majority of seats in the Knesset, Israel’s 120-member parliament.
According to Reuters and other sources, Eisenkot’s Yashar party, together with other opposition groups, has already submitted bills aimed at scrutinizing Netanyahu’s handling of security matters, particularly the failures that led to the deadly Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The opposition also seeks to repeal Netanyahu’s controversial judicial overhaul, which sparked widespread protests and international criticism during his previous term.
The new parliament was sworn in during a ceremony opened by President Isaac Herzog. As reported by Xinhua and the BBC, more than 61 lawmakers have signed a request to replace the current Speaker of the Knesset, Amir Ohana, a Netanyahu ally, with Matan Kahana of the Yashar party. This move is seen as a key step in shifting parliamentary power away from Netanyahu’s bloc.
In the most recent election, held on October 27, Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc secured 53 seats, while parties opposed to him won 67, according to official results cited by Xinhua and the Washington Post. Despite this majority, no single party or bloc achieved the 61-seat threshold required to form a government outright, making coalition-building essential.
President Herzog has tasked Eisenkot with forming a new government, after he received the backing of 67 parliamentarians, compared to 46 for Netanyahu. Eisenkot’s bloc, made up of four Zionist parties, holds 48 seats, but has gained additional support from Arab-led parties and other factions to reach a majority for coalition talks, as reported by the Jerusalem Post and Slate.
Netanyahu remains caretaker prime minister during this transitional period, which could last from days to months, depending on the pace of coalition negotiations. According to the BBC, Eisenkot has 28 days to form a government, with a possible two-week extension if needed.
The opposition’s legislative priorities include establishing an independent commission to investigate the security failures surrounding the October 7 attack and reversing the judicial changes pushed through by Netanyahu’s previous government. These moves signal a clear intent to both hold Netanyahu accountable and chart a new course for Israeli governance.
Almost half of the lawmakers sworn in today are new to the Knesset, and Arab-led parties have achieved a record number of seats, reflecting significant changes in Israel’s political landscape, according to the BBC. The outcome of the election is widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu’s leadership, following years of political turmoil and public division.
While the opposition has moved rapidly to assert control over key parliamentary positions, the process of forming a stable government remains uncertain. Coalition talks are expected to be complex, given the diverse makeup of the opposition bloc and the need to balance the interests of various parties, including those representing Israel’s Arab citizens.
Why it matters
The rapid moves by Israel’s new parliament to challenge Netanyahu’s leadership mark a pivotal moment in the country’s politics. With Gadi Eisenkot’s bloc securing the support of 67 lawmakers, the opposition is poised to reverse key elements of Netanyahu’s legacy, including his judicial overhaul, which drew mass protests and international concern, according to the Washington Post and Xinhua.
The push to investigate the security failures that led to the October 7 Hamas attack underscores the deep divisions and demand for accountability within Israeli society. The inclusion of Arab-led parties in the coalition-building process, as reported by Slate and the BBC, signals a potential shift toward greater political representation for minorities and could reshape the future direction of Israeli governance.
As Netanyahu remains caretaker prime minister, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether Eisenkot can form a stable government and implement the opposition’s agenda. The outcome will have significant implications for Israel’s domestic policies, its relationship with the Palestinian territories, and its standing on the international stage.
The image accompanying this article is an AI-generated illustrative depiction inspired by the actual scene of the event.
