The battle in the opposition: Liberman and Eisenkot vie for control of the Knesset

A political struggle is unfolding within the opposition between Avigdor Liberman and Gadi Eisenkot over the position of the next Knesset speaker. At the center: a plan to replace Amir Ohana and advance legislation to prevent Benjamin Netanyahu from forming a government. Mutual distrust between the sides is delaying agreements.

A political struggle is taking place behind the scenes of the opposition bloc between Avigdor Liberman and Gadi Eisenkot over the identity of the next Knesset speaker. At the heart of the dispute: the plan to replace the current speaker Amir Ohana and advance the 'indictment laws' aimed at preventing Benjamin Netanyahu from receiving the mandate to form a government. Liberman demands that in any scenario, a candidate of his be appointed to the position, while the Yashar party demands that if it becomes the largest in the bloc, the position should be transferred to it. The distrust between the sides is deep: Yisrael Beiteinu fears that Eisenkot will seek unity with Netanyahu, and Yashar fears that Liberman will use the position as a bargaining chip with Likud. Yisrael Beiteinu has already marked Yulia Malinovsky and Oded Forer as candidates, while Yashar is considering Orit Farkash-Hacohen, Matan Kahana, Hili Tropper, Elazar Stern, and Roey Folkman. A source familiar with the details said: 'No one trusts the other. Each side wants the key to the Knesset in its own hand.'