Israeli opposition hurries to seize control as new Knesset is sworn in

Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot has mandate to try to form a government – with Netanyahu waiting if he fails

Opposition lawmakers have wasted no time after Israel’s new Knesset was sworn in, deploying their majority to seize control of the legislature from Benjamin Netanyhau and his allies.

Although they are still too divided to form a government, the opposition requested a vote for a new speaker, who sets the Knesset’s agenda. Once Netanyahu loyalist Amir Ohana has been replaced, the six opposition parties will be able to work on key legislation even if they broker a coalition.

Priorities include setting up a state commission of inquiry into the 7 October 2023 attacks and introducing term limits for Israel’s prime ministers, which could block Netanyahu from taking power again. He has ruled Israel for 19 of the last 30 years.

Gadi Eisenkot, a former Israeli military chief, now has the presidential mandate to try to form a government. If he fails to broker a deal within six weeks, a second candidate – probably Netanyahu – will get a second chance. Further failure is likely to lead to another election.

Netanyahu responded to the swearing in of the new Knesset on Tuesday with a racist attack on two Palestinian-led opposition parties, whose voters were key to unseating his coalition, calling their lawmakers “terror supporters”.

Eisenkot denounced his speech as a “delusional, divisive, hate-filled and shameful” exploitation of a state occasion, that showed the prime minister was unfit for office.

Yair Golan, leader of the centre-left Democrats, and Yoav Segalovich, a Jewish-Israeli former police chief who ran on the slate of Islamist Ra’am party, both walked out of Netanyahu’s speech in protest.

Palestinian citizens of Israel make up about 20% of the country’s population. Netanyahu put attacks on these voters and their parties at the heart of his campaign, and since polling day has promoted groundless accusations of fraud in their communities in a bid to undermine results.

Election officials say there was no evidence of irregularities that affected the election outcome or compromised its integrity.

A period of prolonged, difficult coalition negotiations or even a new round of elections would extend Netanyahu’s hold on power as caretaker prime minister. But if the fractured opposition can make progress on key legislation, his grip on the state would be weakened.

Eisenkot’s Yashar party submitted a series of bills to the Knesset moments after the swearing in, with backing from other opposition parties.

In addition to term limits and the 7 October inquiry, legislation includes several bills designed to revoke the “judicial overhaul” pursued by Netanyahu, which weakened the power of Israel’s judiciary and the attorney general.

Ohana has tabled the vote on a new speaker to replace him for next Tuesday, the latest date possible. The opposition have also nominated candidates to take over key defence and finance committees.

Eisenkot has admitted the path to power is “extraordinarily complex”, because of incompatible election promises made by different parties, but described ousting Netanyahu as a national emergency that could require breaking promises.

At the swearing-in ceremony, the president, Isaac Herzog, warned lawmakers they should do everything in their power to avoid a second election.

“Reach out a hand for compromise, even between ⁠rivals … Look upon one another with generosity. There is much work to be done here, and it requires the ability and experience found in every part of this House.“