Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s repeated calls for a unity government reflect a leader who no longer controls parliament, Jerusalem Post Knesset affairs correspondent Keshet Neev said this week.
She spoke on The Deep Dive podcast with host Jacob Laznik as the opposition bloc moves quickly to take charge of the newly sworn-in 26th Knesset.
Neev said Netanyahu’s appeals show him “stressed out and worried and trying to come up with a way to make sure that he can still ensure that he’s in power.
“Honestly, he does not have the majority right now,” she added. With the Arab parties, the opposition bloc can muster 67 seats. Neev said a request to replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana of Likud, backed by the required 61 signatures, was submitted on the day of the swearing-in. Ohana said he would bring it to a vote next Tuesday. A speaker from the Yashar party would give the bloc “way more sway over the legislative agenda,” Neev said, and could open the door to repealing laws passed by Netanyahu’s previous coalition.
The bills submitted on the first day include legislation for an inquiry into the October 7 Hamas attacks. Neev noted that more than three years later, there has still been no official probe, and she called the bill “a significant step for all of Israel.”
Tensions between parties
Forming a stable coalition remains difficult. Neev said Yashar’s leader canceled coalition talks with Likud after Netanyahu gave a speech at the swearing-in that she described as divisive.
However, she said the walkout by Joint List lawmakers during Hatikvah gives Netanyahu’s bloc “a lot of leverage.” She also suggested the opposition may have to compromise on its promise not to work with haredi parties.