The Yashar faction led by Gadi Eisenkot submitted signatures from more than 61 members of the 26th Knesset to Speaker Amir Ohana on Tuesday, demanding a plenum vote to replace him.
The request formally nominated Knesset member and former minister Matan Kahana to serve as the new Knesset speaker in place of Ohana.
The move marks the first cooperation with Arab factions in the 26th Knesset, whose members’ signatures are included in the effort to advance replacing the speaker.
The party is now seeking to bring the appointment to a vote in the Knesset plenum after securing the required number of signatures to submit the request.
Alongside the struggle for the position of Speaker of the Knesset, Eisenkot is continuing negotiations to form a government, following President Isaac Herzog’s decision to task him with the mandate. During the round of consultations at the President’s Residence, factions representing 67 Knesset members—including 19 from Arab parties—recommended him for the role.
Now, following the submission of the signatures, the Yashar faction is demanding that a vote be held in the Knesset plenum to replace Ohana and elect Kahana as Speaker of the 26th Knesset.