Eisenkot and Liberman Agree on Knesset Speaker Plan as Coalition Talks Advance
Gadi Eisenkot and Avigdor Liberman reached an understanding on replacing Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana on Monday, November 9, Israeli media reported. Their parties said they were confident they could form a government lasting four years.
The meeting came a day after President Isaac Herzog formally gave Eisenkot the task of forming a government. That moved the process beyond the anticipated mandate announcement and into negotiations over both a cabinet and control of parliament's proceedings.
A Speakership Understanding Comes First
Ynet reported that the two leaders agreed the next speaker should come from Eisenkot's Yashar party. N12 described the understanding as Eisenkot himself or a representative on his behalf, with coordination continuing among the other party leaders.
In their joint statement after the meeting, Eisenkot and Liberman expressed confidence in building a stable government for a full four year term. N12 also reported that they agreed to explore seriously the possibility of bringing the Haredi parties into a coalition. Haredi parties represent ultra Orthodox Jewish communities, whose military service arrangements are central to the negotiations.
United Torah Judaism Sets a Condition
Earlier on Monday, Yashar's incoming parliamentary faction chairman, Roy Folkman, asked Shas and United Torah Judaism to support replacing Ohana when the new Knesset convenes. The request was part of an effort to gather signatures for an early vote.
United Torah Judaism chairman Yaakov Asher replied that the speakership should change alongside the formation of a new government, rather than at the opening of parliament, according to the response published by N12. His position creates a separate negotiating question: which parties will support a procedural vote before agreeing on the cabinet itself?
Ynet reported that Ohana had told the bloc he would arrange a vote within a week if it submitted 61 signatures.
The Mandate Has Already Changed Hands
The President's Residence confirmed that Herzog assigned the task to Eisenkot on Sunday, November 8. Factions representing 67 incoming lawmakers recommended Eisenkot, while 46 recommended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. One faction with seven seats recommended neither.
Herzog acknowledged that Likud was the largest faction, but pointed to the recommendation count and precedents in which presidents selected a leader from a smaller party. His appointment gives Eisenkot the first opportunity to assemble a government capable of winning parliamentary confidence.
The recommendations and the speakership negotiations are separate steps in Israel's government formation process. Parties must still settle the government's composition and policy commitments before presenting it to the Knesset.
Why the Speaker Matters to the Next Stage
Under Basic Law: The Government, the initial mandate lasts 28 days. The president may grant extensions totaling no more than 14 additional days. The outgoing government continues carrying out its duties until a new one is established.
The speaker has a specific role once a candidate reports success: notifying the Knesset and setting a sitting to form the government within seven days of that notification. At that sitting, the proposed government presents its policy guidelines, membership and distribution of ministerial responsibilities, and requests the Knesset's confidence. Ministers take office when that confidence is granted.
