Israel's new 26th Knesset (Parliament) was sworn in today, with 120 lawmakers, including 46 new immigrants, who took office after the October 27 elections, which stripped Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of his parliamentary majority.
Gadi Eisenkot's opposition bloc obtained 61 signatures to replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana with Matan Kahane, with a vote expected next week. The bloc also introduced legislation to establish a state investigation into the October 7 attacks, limit prime ministerial terms and cancel judicial reforms.
The ceremony was marked by stormy confrontations, when Netanyahu condemned the possible cooperation with Arab parties, while Naftali Bennett challenged him about the investigation on October 7.
Eisenkot has until December 6 to form a government, while Netanyahu remains interim prime minister. President Yitzhak Herzog urged lawmakers to avoid further elections.
Apart from the leader of the Ream party, Mansour Abbas, all Arab lawmakers walked out during Israel's national anthem, causing an uproar in the plenary.