The battle over the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee - and the Change Bloc's proposal to the Haredim
Likud is delaying the convening of the temporary Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, chaired by MK Avigdor Lieberman, whose appointment was approved on Wednesday, until Monday. The Change Bloc fears the delay is intended to prevent Lieberman from overseeing Netanyahu and decisions regarding Iran, while simultaneously considering a proposal to United Torah Judaism: freezing enforcement of Haredi conscription and arrests of deserters for up to a year.
The establishment of the temporary Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee was approved on Wednesday, but the committee has yet to convene: Likud set a condition that the new committees would not meet before Monday, delaying the start of their work. The significance of the delay is that Lieberman, the new chairman, will not be exposed to classified intelligence materials by virtue of his position until then. The Change Bloc claims the delay is not coincidental, amid concerns over escalation with Iran. According to sources in Yisrael Beiteinu, Lieberman intends to use his position to increase parliamentary oversight of Netanyahu's security decisions, particularly to ensure that political considerations do not underlie decisions to go to war. Lieberman warned in a post on X that a transitional government is not authorized to make decisions that could drag Israel into war without parliamentary oversight. Gadi Eisenkot asked why they are trying to delay the committee's convening and made clear he would not allow a vacuum in oversight. Lieberman stated he would summon the Chief of Staff and the head of Mossad for discussions on developments with Iran. Another issue underpinning Likud's opposition is the negotiations between the Change Bloc and United Torah Judaism. The Change Bloc is considering committing to the Haredim a freeze of up to one year on enforcement of Haredi conscription and arrests of deserters after the government is formed, during which time they would formulate an agreed conscription law in the spirit of Lieberman's 2018 proposal. The High Court previously invalidated a similar government decision, and the Haredim seek a solution that passes legal muster.