Knesset Approves Temporary Committees as Center-Left Secures Majorities
The 26th Knesset approved the Arrangements Committee and temporary panels, with the center-left bloc securing majorities with Arab faction backing amid an intense legislative race.
The 26th Knesset launched its parliamentary race following the swearing-in ceremony, as the Arrangements Committee was approved Wednesday led by MK Roey Folkman of the Yashar party, securing a 63-50 majority. Shortly after, the committee convened for its first session and voted 13-9 to establish and staff two key temporary panels: the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and the Finance Committee.
The votes highlighted the current parliamentary bloc dynamics, where the center-left bloc secured its majority largely thanks to the backing of the Arab factions, Ra'am and the Joint List, tipping the scale against the opposition from the National Camp and the Haredi parties. Setting up these temporary committees while Gadi Eisenkot holds the mandate and before a new government is formed is intended to ensure institutional continuity and parliamentary oversight.
The Arrangements Committee is chaired by Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman for the temporary Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, which will comprise 17 members. Alongside Lieberman, the panel includes Likud MKs Boaz Bismuth, Yaakov Bardugo, Ofir Katz, and Elisha Madan; Yashar faction members Kmil Abu Rokon, Elazar Stern, and Dvora Sharafian Bechar; and BeYachad representatives Ram Ben-Barak and Keren Terner Eyal.
Additional members on the defense panel include Yair Golan of The Democrats, Yoav Segalovitch of Ra'am, Limor Son Har-Melech of Otzma Yehudit, Eliyahu Stark of United Torah Judaism, Yinon Azoulay of Shas, and Simcha Rothman of Religious Zionism. Meanwhile, the temporary Finance Committee will be chaired by MK Liran Avisar Ben-Horin of BeYachad, following approval by the Arrangements Committee of its 17-member roster.
Alongside the committee appointments, an intense legislative race kicked off in the 26th Knesset. Among the key initiatives are parallel bills to repeal the broadcast law, a proposal to establish a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 events and the Swords of Iron war, and proposals by Yair Lapid to anchor the Declaration of Independence in a Basic Law, establish civil unions, and limit prime ministerial tenure to eight years. Conversely, right-wing and Haredi factions submitted priority bills, including measures by United Torah Judaism to regulate yeshiva student exemptions and 85 bills submitted by Simcha Rothman of Religious Zionism concerning judicial reforms.
