As Israel’s newly elected parliament convened on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, opposition leaders holding a majority of seats submitted bills to form an October 7 state inquiry and repeal Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul, The Washington Post reported.
The opening session of the 26th Knesset descended into disorderly scenes as politicians clashed across the aisles. The legislative push represents a coordinated effort by opposition factions to dismantle key pillars of the outgoing government’s legacy.
Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot submitted a long-promised bill to establish a state commission of inquiry into the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, according to The Times of Israel. Netanyahu previously blocked the panel, arguing an independent court-appointed body would be biased against his administration.
Eisenkot’s bloc also moved to repeal laws eroding the attorney general’s powers, alter the Judicial Selection Committee, and dismantle the media overhaul led by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, The Times of Israel reported. In addition, the Yashar party proposed setting term limits for the prime minister.
France 24 reported that Eisenkot’s bloc announced it secured enough votes in the 120-seat parliament to install Matan Kahana as the new speaker. Kahana is a former senior military figure backed by the opposition.
Clashing Visions for the Future
Eisenkot dismissed the remarks as a “shameful” exploitation of the occasion, casting them as evidence that Netanyahu was “unfit to remain in office for even one more minute.”
Netanyahu hit back during an impassioned speech in the Knesset’s Chagall Hall, casting the opposition’s reliance on Arab parties as an existential threat. He accused Ra’am and the Joint List of seeking Israel’s destruction, warning lawmakers against depending on them to form a government, NewsCord reported.
He further claimed the only difference between the two Arab parties was their disagreement over what kind of state should be established on the “ruins of the Jewish state.”
Are you prepared to be dependent on those whose purpose is the destruction of the Jewish state?
Netanyahu asked from the podium, as reported by The Washington Post. You would place the fate of our country into their hands?
Eisenkot’s core bloc holds 48 seats, falling 13 seats short of the 61-seat majority required to govern. While the 19 combined lawmakers from Ra’am and the Joint List offered support, Eisenkot demanded they meet specific criteria, including denouncing Hamas as a terrorist group, according to The Washington Post and France 24.
The debate triggered fierce disruptions inside the chamber. Former prime minister Naftali Bennett interrupted Netanyahu to ask why he did not label Qatar an enemy of Israel. Netanyahu’s wife, Sara, began berating Bennett from the gallery while Eisenkot sat silently with his arms crossed, The Washington Post reported.
During the swearing-in of Joint List party chief Yousef Jabareen, Itamar Ben Gvir interjected to ask if he was swearing allegiance to Hamas, prompting a rebuke from Yair Golan.
Outside the Knesset, right-wing demonstrators protested against the prospect of an Arab-backed government, with armed Border Police separating the crowd from access roads. One demonstrator warned, There will be a civil war here if it happens, no question.
Democrats chairman Yair Golan walked out in protest during the session, and lawmaker Gilad Kariv was removed from the hall, according to NewsCord.
| Political Faction / Leader | Key Figures / Parties | Estimated Seat Count | Stance on Government Formation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yashar Bloc (Eisenkot) | Gadi Eisenkot, Yashar, Democrats (Yair Golan) | 48 seats (Core) | Seeking to form a national-emergency government; open to external Arab-Israeli legislative backing. |
| Netanyahu Coalition | Benjamin Netanyahu, Likud, Haredi parties | 46 seats (Pending) | Advocating for a national-unity government; ruling out reliance on Arab parties. |
| Arab-Israeli Parties | Ra’am, Joint List (Yousef Jabareen) | 19 seats | Offered support to the Eisenkot bloc, subject to coalition negotiations. |
President Isaac Herzog awarded the mandate to form a government to Eisenkot, giving him roughly six weeks to cobble together a working coalition. Meanwhile, Netanyahu urged right-wing and ultra-Orthodox factions to remain loyal, warning that promises made by the center-left would vanish immediately after taking power, France 24 reported.
Earlier this year, in June 2026, Supreme Court President Isaac Amit and 10 justices presided over a High Court hearing regarding a law increasing political power over judicial appointments.
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