Image source, DEBBIE HILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
The first session of Israel's 26th Parliament began in Jerusalem on Tuesday afternoon. During this, all the 120 newly elected MPs took the oath of office and secrecy.
This time the number of MPs in favor of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is less in the Parliament. However, Netanyahu will remain in office as acting Prime Minister until the formation of the new government.
There was a lot of uproar during the first session of Parliament. Many MPs made sharp remarks at each other, while some members walked out of the House.
The biggest discussion took place when, during Netanyahu's speech, there was a heated argument between his wife Sara Netanyahu and former Prime Minister and opposition leader Naftali Bennett.
Debate between Naftali Bennett and Sara Netanyahu
Image source: Jack GUEZ / AFP via Getty Image
In fact, during his speech, Netanyahu mentioned allegations of foreign interference in the elections.
Netanyahu said, "We must fully investigate the serious allegations regarding the role of foreigners. These people are suspected of influencing the results of the elections by spending huge sums of money. Whatever restrictions the Attorney General has placed on investigating these serious allegations must be lifted."
According to the Times of Israel, meanwhile, opposition leader Naftali Bennett took a jibe at Netanyahu by mentioning the Hamas attack on October 7 and the role of Qatar, after which the controversy escalated.
Naftali Bennett interrupted Netanyahu mid-speech, saying, "Why don't you set up a government commission of inquiry to investigate the October 7 incident? Why don't you declare Qatar an enemy country? What about your advisors related to Qatar?"
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Ofir Katz, chairman of the parliamentary group of Netanyahu's Likud party, responded to Bennett, saying, "Investigate this with your Tibi and Abbas."
He was referring to Joint List MP Ahmed Tibi and Ram Party's Mansoor Abbas.
In the video that surfaced during this time, Bennett was also seen arguing with Netanyahu's wife Sara.
Israel's right-wing minister Itamar Ben-Gvir told Bennett that he sits with the Joint List and is now raising questions.
As the controversy escalated, Netanyahu stopped his speech for some time and waited for the situation to calm down.
The MP asked Netanyahu, 'How much money did you get from Qatar?'
Image source, Ilia YEFIMOVICH / AFP via Getty Images
At the same time, Democrats Party MP Gilad Kariv targeted Netanyahu and asked, "How much money did you get from Qatar?"
Kariv also reminded Netanyahu of the rally held in Jerusalem's Zion Square in October 1995. He said that even after that incident, 'Netanyahu did not stop provoking people.'
Actually, that rally was addressed by Netanyahu. During this, the protesters raised slogans of 'Death to Rabin'. About a month later, the then Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a Jewish fundamentalist.
According to the Times of Israel report, Netanyahu adopted such a policy for many years, under which permission was given to send Qatari money to Hamas-ruled Gaza. At the same time, several of his close advisors are being investigated on the allegation that while working for the Prime Minister, they took money in exchange for promoting Qatar's interests.
According to the report, his longtime advisor Jonathan Urich allegedly admitted during a recent police interrogation that he had received several lakhs of shekels (Israeli currency) for work related to Qatar. This work continued even after the October 7 attack. Urich is still working for Netanyahu.
Netanyahu supporters took a jibe at Arab parties
The tension in the first session of Parliament was not limited to Netanyahu's speech only. Controversy also took place during the swearing-in of Joint List chief Yusuf Jabarin. During this, Itamar Ben-Gvir asked him whether he was taking an oath of allegiance to Hamas.
Eisencott's colleague and leftist leader Yair Golan strongly objected to this comment. He has already appealed to Aizencott to include Israeli citizens of Palestinian origin in the opposition coalition.
At the same time, before Netanyahu's speech, MPs from Arab parties walked out of the house. On this, some MPs of Likud Party took a jibe at him and said, 'Why did the Arab MPs leave?'
It is noteworthy that the Arab parties have decided to support Aizencott, their coming together has strengthened Aizencott's claim for the post of Prime Minister.
Eisencott cancels meeting with Netanyahu's party
Image source: Amir Levy/Getty Images
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Gadi Eisencott's Yashar Party has canceled a proposed meeting with Likud amid ongoing efforts to form a new government in Israel.
According to The Jerusalem Post, this meeting was to be held on Wednesday to discuss the possibilities of forming a coalition government and taking the negotiation process forward. However, the party decided to cancel it after caretaker Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's speech in parliament.
The Yashar Party announced on Tuesday that it had scheduled a preliminary meeting for coalition talks with Likud. According to the party, it had appealed to all the parliamentary parties for honest and meaningful talks on the basis of its four principles for government formation. Under this initiative, a meeting was scheduled for Wednesday between Eisencott's team and Likud representatives.
However, after Netanyahu's speech the party changed its stance.
A statement issued by Yashar said, "The divisive speech of the acting prime minister and his shameful behavior during the swearing-in ceremony in parliament have hurt the dignity of even the remaining politicians under Netanyahu's rule."
The party said that in view of these circumstances, Yashar chief Gadi Eizenkot has instructed to cancel the talks with Likud representatives on Wednesday.
Published by Collective Newsroom for the BBC.
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