Tensions rose in the Knesset on Tuesday during a swearing-in ceremony of new members of parliament, resulting in a quarrel between Sara Netanyahu and ex-PM Naftali Bennett. The incident took place while caretaker PM Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to the House and slammed opposition members and Arab parties.
Bennett heckles the speech; Netanyahu shouts back
It all began when Bennett heckled the PM while he delivered his address, challenging him about the allegations regarding outside influences and accountability for the events of October 7, 2023.
The former PM asked Netanyahu why the Israeli government didn’t declare Qatar as an enemy state and accused him of lying about his former aides.
When Sara Netanyahu yelled at Bennett, PM Netanyahu had to remind both of them about parliamentary rules of behaviour because she accused Bennett of having an alliance with Arab parties.
Far-right backing
At this moment, far-right Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Likud faction head Ofir Katz joined the shouting at Bennett.
A quick pause
Netanyahu interrupted his speech for a moment to allow his wife and supporters finish shouting.
Attacks by Netanyahu on Arab coalitions and Opposition
In his speech, Netanyahu criticised organisations run by Arabs in general and the Joint List and Ra’am parties in particular.
Netanyahu used the term “shameful” to describe any government supported by Arab-majority parties and said the opposition was putting national security at risk.
The Prime Minister asked for a probe to be opened into accusations of Qatari financing to increase voter turnout.
Eisenkot and his legislative agenda
In the meantime, a retired major-general Gadi Eisenkot, who gained the support of 67 parliament members in getting the position of forming the new government of Israel, described Netanyahu’s speech as “full of hate” and wasted no time canceling his meeting with Likud that had been scheduled for Wednesday.
The “Yashar” party put forward its legislative agenda that consists of several important initiatives:
Executive oversight: Many bills aim to increase monitoring over what the executive is doing in terms of security related to October 7.
Judicial powers: New legislation is aimed at rolling back previously adopted laws that limited judicial power in a controversial way.
Speaker replacement: Securing sufficient signatures to hold a vote to replace Likud-backed Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.
Eisenkot now has six weeks to assemble a viable governing coalition. If he fails to secure a working majority within that window, President Isaac Herzog will pass the mandate back to Netanyahu.
