Israel’s 26th Knesset Sworn In as Netanyahu Faces Coalition Crisis
Israel's new 120-seat parliament is sworn in Tuesday. President Isaac Herzog tasks Gadi Eisenkot with forming a government in a split-rail parliament.
POLICY WIRE — Tel Aviv, Israel — Israel’s freshly elected legislature is scheduled to be sworn in on Tuesday, marking the official start of the 26th Knesset. The session unfolds as political leaders intensify their efforts to assemble a viable governing coalition.
President Isaac Herzog is set to address the 120-member parliament at 4:00 pm (1400 GMT) during the opening ceremony. His remarks will precede the formal inauguration of the new legislative body.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will lose his parliamentary majority with the seating of the new members. Neither his right-wing bloc nor the opposition camp commanded by Gadi Eisenkot holds the votes necessary to rule independently in the 120-seat chamber.
The President has assigned Eisenkot, the leader of the opposition and a prominent rival of the Prime Minister, the first attempt to form a government. Eisenkot is currently working to secure a coalition that can displace the caretaker administration.
The assembly of the new Knesset occurs amid significant uncertainty regarding who will ultimately hold executive power. Neither side has secured a clear path to a majority, leaving the nation in a period of political transition.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
