Israel's new Knesset is set to be sworn in on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, providing opposition politicians an opportunity to gain control of some legislative functions. A key item on the agenda is the replacement of the current speaker, Amir Ohana, who is a close ally of Benjamin Netanyahu and controls the legislature's agenda and committee chairs.
Matan Kahana, a former minister and member of the Yashar party, has been nominated to become the new speaker. He has the explicit backing of all four Jewish Israeli parties within Gadi Eisenkot’s “change” bloc. The two Palestinian-led opposition parties are also expected to support Kahana, viewing Ohana's replacement as a priority.
The opposition parties collectively hold 67 seats in the 120-seat legislature, which is sufficient to install a consensus choice for speaker. They plan to request a vote on Tuesday afternoon. Ohana then has up to a week to bring the vote to the floor.
Separately, Avigdor Lieberman, who leads another opposition party, has been nominated to head the foreign affairs and defence committee. This committee is expected to be central in drafting legislation concerning the conscription of ultra-Orthodox men, a significant campaign issue for Lieberman.