On the new Israeli parliament's first day, Netanyahu's opponents — Arab parties included — agree to remove Speaker Ohana

The political camp opposed to Prime Minister and Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu wants to remove Speaker Amir Ohana on the very first day of Israel's new parliament. The parties representing Israel's Arab citizens are also in this camp, and an understanding has been reached among them on the move.

Elections were held in Israel last Tuesday. According to the results, Netanyahu's hard-right coalition won 53 seats in the 120-seat parliament. The opposition coalition of former army chief Gadi Eisenkot won 48 seats. The Arab alliance and parties, the Joint List and Ra'am, won 19 seats.

To form a government in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, a party or coalition needs at least 61 seats. No side has reached that number. However, if Eisenkot's opposition coalition takes the Joint List or Ra'am with it, it will be able to form a government.

Amid the coalition calculations, Yair Golan, leader of the opposition Democrats party, said on a Channel 12 programme on Friday that after Knesset members are sworn in, ‘the first thing we will do’ is appoint a new speaker. The heads of the parliament's various committees would be appointed after that.

Israel's new parliament will begin on 10 November. Although talks on forming a government are under way, the elected members must be sworn in on that scheduled day. After the oath, if the opposition parties Yashar, B'Yachad, the Democrats and Yisrael Beiteinu join with the Joint List and Ra'am, they will easily be able to remove the speaker.

Speaker Amir Ohana is a Likud party leader and close to Netanyahu. Political analyst Barak Seri said an understanding has already been reached on removing Ohana, but he did not say who might be given the post of new speaker. Various reports have said former prime minister Yair Lapid could be appointed to the position.