The new Israeli parliament will soon take an oath on Tuesday, and Gadi Eisenkot, the interim Prime Minister, has committed to forming a new government and addressing the challenges ahead. Eisenkot, who has recently entered politics, emphasized that in these complex circumstances, he will act swiftly to establish a national emergency government.
Eisenkot's Plans and Challenges Ahead
The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, will begin his speech at 16:00 local time (14:00 GMT) to swear in 120 members of parliament, known as the Knesset. In this parliament, neither Netanyahu's right-wing coalition nor the anti-Netanyahu bloc led by Eisenkot will hold a majority.
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Eisenkot stated regarding this: "I am strongly committed to forming a national emergency government as quickly as possible in these complex circumstances." His plans include investigating the security failures during Netanyahu's time that led to the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, a day recognized as the deadliest in Israel's history.
Political Developments and Alliances
On Sunday, Herzog tasked Eisenkot with the initial mission to form a government, and he has 28 days to form a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension. On the eve of the parliament's commencement, Eisenkot's party has announced agreements to replace Netanyahu's allies.
Eisenkot also announced that Matan Kahana, a former senior military official, will be introduced as the Speaker of the Parliament. Avigdor Lieberman, a right-wing member of Eisenkot's bloc who plays a key role in determining government members, will be introduced as the head of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Arab-Israeli representatives have also announced that they will support Kahana, strengthening his chances of being elected as Speaker of the Parliament.
The parties representing the Arab minority, which gained a significant number of seats after the elections held on October 27, have capitalized on the growing discontent with Netanyahu's right-wing government. Lieberman has warned that a minority government would only lead to Netanyahu's return with 70 Knesset members.
