Yashar Party Targets Knesset Speaker Replacement Before Inaugural Session

Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party formally invited the ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism parties on Monday to support a bid to remove Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. This move occurs one day before the inaugural session of the 26th Knesset. The opposition aims to secure the 61 signatures required to unseat Ohana, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party.

Ohana stated last week that he would not hold a removal vote on the swearing-in day itself. He indicated he would schedule the vote for the following week if a formal request with sufficient backing were submitted. Removing the speaker would allow the opposition bloc to control the parliamentary agenda, including committee appointments and legislative votes. This control would persist even if Netanyahu remains at the head of a caretaker government.

Roy Folkman, the chair of Yashar’s Knesset faction, sent letters to the leaders of both ultra-Orthodox factions asking them to join the effort. The party confirmed that the process of gathering signatures is already underway. This outreach represents a shift for the opposition, which had previously opposed partnering with ultra-Orthodox groups. Bloc leaders now view cooperation with these parties as an alternative path to forming a government after the October 27 elections.

Shas has not publicly committed to the opposition and recommended Netanyahu to President Isaac Herzog as its candidate to form the next government. United Torah Judaism abstained from recommending any candidate, despite its history as a key coalition partner for Netanyahu. Reports indicate tensions exist between UTJ and the prime minister regarding ultra-Orthodox draft legislation from the previous term.

Eisenkot has outlined four principles for potential partners. He urged the opposition to form a national emergency government quickly and to replace the speaker immediately after the new Knesset is sworn in. He also pledged to repeal laws that threaten democracy. The opposition bloc has not yet selected a candidate to replace Ohana, ending its last joint meeting without consensus. Monday serves as the deadline for that decision.

One proposal under consideration would place Eisenkot in the speaker role. He would resign if he succeeds in forming a government and becoming prime minister, or remain in the post if he fails. Avigdor Liberman, chief of Yisrael Beytenu, announced last week that he supports B’Yachad’s Yair Lapid for the job. Liberman was expected to meet Eisenkot on Monday to discuss the matter.

Eisenkot formally received the mandate to form a government from Herzog on Sunday at the President’s Residence. He stated that creative and unconventional political steps would be needed. His bloc holds 48 seats, while Netanyahu’s bloc holds 53. This leaves the opposition short of the 61 seats required for a majority. Eisenkot has 28 days to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension, or face other outcomes including a unity government, a minority government, or new elections.