Opposition Accuses Likud of Plot to Disrupt Knesset Speaker Vote

Opposition party leaders on Thursday sent a letter to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana demanding that a debate and vote to elect a new speaker be held as early as Tuesday. The 120 lawmakers elected on October 27 are set to be sworn in on Tuesday regardless of whether a coalition government has been formed by then.

Responding in a post on X, formerly Twitter, Ohana said the date for electing a new speaker would be set only once a new government is formed, unless a majority of Knesset members sign a letter asking that it be scheduled sooner. "There will be no clinging to the altar," he wrote. "You can stop promoting conspiracy theories in the media."

At the same time, sources within the opposition bloc said they had received information about an alleged Likud plan to disrupt the vote, including physically preventing MKs from entering the plenum. According to the sources, hundreds of Likud Central Committee members are expected to converge on the Knesset on the day of the vote and attempt to block lawmakers from reaching the chamber.

The information further suggests that widespread disruptions are planned for the debate itself, with the goal of forcing Ohana to suspend the session and close the plenum, which would prevent a vote on his replacement. The opposition bloc has warned of this scenario but says it intends to push ahead with replacing the speaker even if such attempts take place.

The sources stressed, however, that the allegations rest on information received by figures within the bloc. The alleged plan has not been independently verified, and Likud has not confirmed it.

Meanwhile, the opposition bloc remains divided over who should replace Ohana. Party leaders ended their latest meeting without a consensus and set Monday as the deadline for a decision. The dispute centers on Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot and Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid. Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman backs Lapid for the post, while Eisenkot wants the job for himself.

One concern raised in the negotiations is that the position could go to a representative of a party that might later join a government led by Benjamin Netanyahu, meaning the choice of speaker could carry political consequences far beyond the management of parliamentary proceedings. Sources familiar with the talks said Eisenkot wants to secure the role immediately, gaining a significant position of influence during coalition negotiations. Under one proposal, he would resign as speaker if he succeeds in forming a government and becoming prime minister, but could otherwise remain in the post and retain influence over the parliamentary agenda.

For now, no agreement has been reached, and the decision on a candidate has been postponed pending further talks. Despite the disagreement, the opposition bloc intends to seek the first mandate to form a government from President Isaac Herzog while continuing its efforts to replace the Knesset speaker.