Israeli opposition moves to oust Knesset Speaker Ohana before next government is formed

Israel's opposition bloc has settled on its opening move in the new Knesset: replacing Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana of the Likud party, even though it has not yet been decided who will form the next government, according to local news reports.

Because the speaker controls the parliamentary agenda, removing Ohana would hand the camp opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu influence over votes, legislation and committee appointments, even if Netanyahu remains in office at the head of a caretaker government.

The speaker is chosen in an open vote, one of the first orders of business of a new Knesset. To push Ohana out, the opposition bloc will need a majority of the Knesset's 120 members to unite behind a single candidate, possibly with support from the Arab parties. No agreement on the next government is required for the move.

Possible candidates for the post include Chili Tropper, Matan Kahana and Elazar Stern of Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party; Merav Ben-Ari and Eitan Ginzburg of Naftali Bennett's B'Yachad party; Efrat Rayten of the Democrats; and Oded Forer of Yisrael Beytenu. KAN News reported on Wednesday that bloc leaders were also considering Yair Lapid for speaker.

Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman predicted this week that some outgoing coalition lawmakers would also back replacing Ohana, estimating that as many as a third could vote against him.

The effort comes as Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot announced on Saturday that he intended to negotiate his way to a parliamentary majority, establish an October 7 Commission of Inquiry, implement compulsory military service for all, and repeal the judicial reform laws.

"Every Knesset member who is willing to sign on to these principles is a potential partner on the path to establishing a new and better government for Israel," Eisenkot wrote on X. "The door of the government we will form will be open to every public representative who accepts these principles and is ready to rise to the occasion."

On Wednesday, the day after the election, members of the Joint List, an alliance of predominantly Arab parties, said they were ready to work with the opposition. According to KAN News, Joint List leaders said they were insulted that opposition leaders had not contacted them about joining coalition negotiations for the next government.

"We are ready and prepared to pave the way for ousting the Netanyahu government," Joint List chairman Prof. Yousef Jabareen said. "Change goes through Jewish-Arab partnership, a real and equal partnership. Nothing less than that, and nothing more than that."

Ofer Cassif, a Knesset member who is No. 5 on the Joint List's slate, said the moment was "now or never," adding: "We are committed to repair; will the opposition bloc rise to the occasion? The ball is in their court." Joint List leader MK Ahmad Tibi, meanwhile, said in a "Meet the Press" interview on Saturday that his party would not join the coalition. "We will not be a part of the government," he said, noting that he and his fellow party members want to make the coalition process "easier, not harder."