Ultra-Orthodox party blocks early swap of Knesset speaker

The opposition bloc in Israel lost a key procedural ally on Monday when the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party rejected a bid to replace the Knesset speaker before a new government is sworn in. The decision blocks a strategy that would have allowed rival parties to control the legislative agenda during the interim period following the recent election.

Yaakov Asher, the chairman of United Torah Judaism, stated that the speaker position should change only when a new cabinet is formed. He argued that swapping the speaker now could create a conflict between the legislative body and the executive branch. The current speaker, Amir Ohana, is a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party. Although United Torah Judaism has ended its formal alliance with Netanyahu, Asher’s refusal prevents the opposition from securing a partner for the vote.

The rejection followed a mandate given to Gadi Eisenkot on Monday to assemble a government. Eisenkot’s bloc holds 48 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, falling short of the 61 required for a majority. Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman met with Eisenkot on Monday and urged the group to negotiate with ultra-Orthodox parties to build a coalition. Liberman has expressed openness to working with these factions, despite Eisenkot’s campaign promise to mandate universal military service, a stance opposed by the ultra-Orthodox.

Yashar party lawmaker Roy Folkman had invited United Torah Judaism and the Shas party to vote out Ohana at the new Knesset’s inaugural session on Tuesday. Shas, which holds six seats and remains allied with Netanyahu, is not expected to support the move. A majority against Ohana already exists, as the two Arab-led parties, holding 19 seats combined, have pledged to back his replacement. Ohana has agreed to schedule a vote if a majority of the house requests it.

The speaker controls the legislative agenda and can influence which bills reach the floor. Replacing him would allow opposition parties to advance measures blocked by Netanyahu, including a state commission of inquiry into the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack and a bill imposing term limits on the prime minister. Asher’s letter to Folkman maintained that the speaker should be replaced alongside the formation of a new government, a policy that follows past practice with one exception.

Folkman is expected to chair the Knesset Arrangements Committee after Tuesday’s swearing-in. This temporary panel manages the Knesset’s work until a permanent government is established and can create special committees to advance legislation. The chairmanship goes to a member of the party tasked with forming a government, meaning Folkman’s tenure may be brief if Eisenkot fails to assemble a coalition within the six-week limit. Folkman, 51, is a former lawmaker and social activist who holds the 17th spot on Yashar’s slate.

Netanyahu released a video statement shortly after Eisenkot and Liberman met, calling for a unity government under his leadership. He stated that Likud, with 27 seats, should lead the coalition, though Yashar’s 21 seats anchor a larger supporting bloc. Netanyahu argued that a government cannot depend on parties that support Hamas, while Eisenkot’s principles require recognizing Hamas as a terror group and committing to its destruction.