Israeli Opposition Moves to Oust Knesset Speaker With 67 Seats as Coalition Talks Stall
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Nov 10
Israeli Opposition Moves to Oust Knesset Speaker With 67 Seats as Coalition Talks Stall
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Nov 10
Summary
Tuesday’s Knesset swearing-in gives Israel’s opposition its first concrete opening to seize power by replacing Speaker Amir Ohana, a Netanyahu ally who controls the parliamentary agenda.
67 seats in the 120-member chamber give the anti-Netanyahu bloc enough votes to install a new speaker, with Gadi Eisenkot or another member of his Yashar party expected to be the nominee.
160 former security chiefs warned that right-wing activists were planning violent disruptions at the Knesset and could try to block lawmakers and their families from entering the building.
Eisenkot still faces steep coalition hurdles because several Jewish-Israeli opposition parties refuse to govern with Palestinian-led parties, whose record turnout delivered 19 seats and is crucial to any anti-Netanyahu majority.
Netanyahu’s allies could use any delay to buy time: Ohana can hold up seating a new government for up to a week, and if coalition talks fail, Israel would head to another election with Netanyahu staying on as caretaker.
With security officials warning of blockades, could right-wing disruptions at the Knesset swearing-in successfully derail the opposition's attempt to transfer power?
Can Gadi Eisenkot unite a fractured coalition of Jewish and Arab parties before his mandate expires, or will Israel face another election?
The 67-Vote Threshold: Inside Israel’s High-Stakes Push to Replace Speaker Ohana and Block Netanyahu’s Comeback
Overview
After Israel's October 2026 election, the anti-Netanyahu bloc and Arab-led parties secured a 67-seat Knesset majority, leading President Herzog to task Gadi Eisenkot with forming a new government. To prevent Likud from using procedural delays to block their momentum, opposition parties immediately pushed to replace Speaker Amir Ohana and take control of key parliamentary committees. High Arab-Israeli turnout, driven by fear of far-right ministers, made Arab-led parties pivotal kingmakers, but longstanding taboos kept them out of the cabinet. Instead, a confidence-and-supply deal was considered, with Arab parties demanding concrete commitments on equality and safety in exchange for external support.