Opposition bloc secures majority in its first Knesset vote, Yashar MK to head key committee

The Knesset plenum approved the composition of the Arrangements Committee on Wednesday, with the opposition bloc seeking to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, securing a majority for its proposed lineup.The Eisenkot bloc's proposal for the committee's composition passed with 63 MKs in favor and 50 against. It was the first vote held in the plenum after the swearing-in of the 26th Knesset on Tuesday.The vote demonstrated the ability of the opposition bloc to secure a Knesset majority following the October 27 elections, in which the Eisenkot-led bloc, including the Arab parties, received 67 seats, while Netanyahu's bloc won 53 seats.However, no coalition has yet been formed, as opposition party leaders have drawn a red line against partnering with the Arab parties. Nevertheless, their support could still allow the bloc to pass key legislation, even while Netanyahu heads a caretaker government.The Arrangements Committee is a temporary Knesset committee that organizes the Knesset's work at the start of a new parliamentary term and determines the composition of the key committees that will oversee legislation.MK Roy Folkman, a member of Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party, will head the committee, in accordance with the law stipulating that the Arrangements Committee be chaired by an MK from the faction of the lawmaker tasked by the president with forming the government.