Jerusalem, 10 November, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s opposition parties have agreed on candidates for several key parliamentary positions as they prepare to form a new government, hours before the newly elected Knesset is sworn in on Tuesday.
The agreement was reached by Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar! party, along with opposition leaders Naftali Bennett of Beyachad, Yair Golan of the Democrats, Avigdor Liberman of Yisrael Beiteinu and Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid.
Former minister Matan Kahana has been designated as Knesset speaker, while incoming lawmaker Roi Folkman will head the Arrangements Committee, which oversees the parliament’s organization and committee appointments. Both are members of Yashar! Liberman, a former defense minister, will chair the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and Liran Avishar Ben-Horin of Beyachad will lead the Finance Committee.
The Arrangements Committee will finalize the composition of parliamentary committees this week, with the full Knesset scheduled to vote on the appointments Wednesday.
Eisenkot has 28 days from receiving the president’s mandate to present his government to the Knesset for a vote of confidence. The deadline for the initial period is Dec. 6, but the president customarily grants a 14-day extension, moving Eisenkot’s final deadline to Dec. 20.
If Eisenkot fails, Herzog is expected to nominate Netanyahu as a second candidate by Dec. 23, with a deadline of Jan. 20. If that attempt also fails, at least 61 MKs can recommend a third candidate by Feb. 10, who would have until Feb. 26 to form a government. Otherwise, the Knesset automatically dissolves, triggering an election on May 27.
