Jerusalem, 5 November, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana issued an open letter to opposition leaders clarifying parliamentary procedures for electing a speaker, addressing media reports of plans to replace him.
Ohana noted that the standard timeframe for electing a speaker coincides with government formation, but highlighted an exception if 61 lawmakers petition for an earlier vote.
“As I have already replied, including publicly—we will respect the Members of Knesset, and if a majority of them request to hold such a debate, I will schedule it for an early date, no later than one week,” Ohana wrote.
Dismissing claims he would resist step-down efforts, Ohana added the following Biblical reference: “There will be no clinging to the horns of the altar. You can stop promoting conspiracy theories in the media.”
In ancient Israel if a person condemned to death clung to the altar in the Temple he could not be taken away for execution.
