Israel’s new parliament takes office today, and its lawmakers who oppose Benjamin Netanyahu may already begin to make life difficult for the outgoing —now serving in an interim capacity—even before a new government is formed, a task entrusted to his centrist rival, Gadi Eizenkot.
Pending the outcome of the ongoing negotiations, the absence of a government does not “in any way” diminish the Knesset’s prerogatives, due to the “principle of separation of powers,” Asaf Shapira, a researcher at the Israeli Institute for Democracy (IDI), explained to Agence France-Presse.
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Below is a summary of potential actions by the Knesset, which will be controlled by forces opposed to Mr. Netanyahu.
Investigation Committee
Among the opposition’s key campaign promises was the establishment of an independent investigative committee to examine the errors and omissions that led to the unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, in southern areas of Israeli territory—the deadliest attack in Israel’s history. The committee will be called upon to rule on Mr. Netanyahu’s potential personal responsibility.
Although Benjamin Netanyahu denies any negligence on his part, his government has rejected the creation of an independent state investigative commission—the only body under Israeli law that would have broad powers and jurisdiction in such an investigation.
The opposition can form “a special parliamentary committee that would submit its findings to the state commission once it is formed,” notes Mr. Shapira.
Gandhi Eisenkot pledged in the days following the vote that he would propose a bill to the Knesset to establish a special investigative committee to look into the events surrounding the attack on October 7.
Repeal of Laws
On the legislative front, the new majority also intends to repeal landmark legislation passed by the outgoing governing coalition, which held 68 seats in the previous Knesset. Mr. Netanyahu’s party and its allies are now limited to 46 seats, while the opposition holds 67.
Among the laws in the crosshairs are the one that curtailed the Supreme Court’s privileges and the one that facilitated the removal of the attorney general.
According to Mr. Sapira, the repeal of these laws is feasible because “they will simply be revoked” and “the previous provisions” will take effect.
The process can begin with the formation of a committee to organize parliamentary work, as early as today.
Researcher Sapira warns, however, that the process could take weeks and requires perfect coordination among the various opposition parties.
New Speaker of the Knesset
The first political showdown will concern the election of a new Knesset speaker. This position is currently held by Amir Ohana, a loyalist of Benjamin Netanyahu and a member of the Likud (right-wing) party, the prime minister’s party.
The rules stipulate that a vote on this matter may take place from today’s inaugural session of parliament until, at the latest, the day the new government is sworn in.
The first clash occurred last week, as three parties in the opposition coalition demanded that the outgoing speaker of the Knesset begin the process of electing his successor at the very first session.
Mr. Ohana responded by arguing that unwritten tradition dictates that the new Knesset speaker be elected “on the day the new government is sworn in.”
Asaf Shapira notes that the law, on the contrary, stipulates that “the customary date is that of the commencement of the new parliament’s session.”
“We don’t have time; we must act urgently,” Naftali Bennett, a pillar of Gadi Eisenkot’s coalition, warned last week. The opposition must take control of the Knesset “as soon as possible,” he insisted.
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Source: APE-MPE
