The Knesset plenum approved the composition of the Arrangements Committee on Wednesday, marking the first vote held after the swearing in of the 26th Knesset on Tuesday. The proposal put forward by the opposition bloc, which seeks to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, secured a majority with 63 MKs voting in favor and 50 against. This outcome demonstrates the bloc's ability to command a parliamentary majority following the October 27 elections, where the Eisenkot-led group, including Arab parties, captured 67 seats while Netanyahu's bloc won 53.
The Arrangements Committee serves as a temporary body that organizes the Knesset's work at the start of a new parliamentary term. It is responsible for determining the composition of key committees that will oversee legislation. Roy Folkman, a member of Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party, will head the committee. This appointment aligns with the law requiring that the committee be chaired by an MK from the faction of the lawmaker tasked by the president with forming the government. Yashar announced the selection of Folkman on Tuesday, a decision made in agreement with opposition party leaders after President Isaac Herzog granted Eisenkot the mandate to form the next government last week.
On Tuesday, the Eisenkot-led bloc also announced nominees for other key Knesset committees. Avigdor Liberman, leader of Yisrael Beytenu, is expected to chair the influential Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. This panel oversees national security matters, military budgets, and legislation related to IDF conscription. Liran Avisar Ben-Horin, a member of Bennett's B'Yachad list, was selected to head the Finance Committee. The Arrangements Committee will discuss and finalize these committee compositions during its deliberations, which began on Wednesday afternoon. Yashar stated that the appointments will be brought to the Knesset plenum for approval next Wednesday.
Under Folkman's approved proposal, the Arrangements Committee will consist of 22 MKs. The distribution of seats is proportional, with parties receiving one seat for every five MKs they hold. From the opposition bloc, Yashar will have four representatives, while B'Yachad and the Democrats will each have two. Avigdor Liberman's Yisrael Beytenu will have one representative. From Netanyahu's bloc, Likud will have five representatives. Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit, Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party, Yaakov Asher's United Torah Judaism, and Arye Deri's Shas will each have one representative. The two Arab parties, the Joint List and Ra'am, will each have two representatives, totaling four MKs.
This composition contrasts with a separate proposal submitted by Likud MK Ofir Katz, which failed to secure a majority. Likud criticized the opposition bloc for voting with the Arab parties, reiterating its claim that the bloc was cooperating with supporters of terrorism. Despite this, no formal coalition has yet been formed, as opposition party leaders have drawn a red line against partnering with the Arab parties. Nevertheless, their support allows the bloc to pass key legislation even while Netanyahu heads a caretaker government. The bloc has recently shifted toward opening coalition negotiations with the haredi parties, which have been key partners in Netanyahu's coalition, to secure a majority instead.
