Nathan Shachar: A swarm of hostile bills scares Netanyahu

The defense and foreign affairs committee and the finance committee and the Knesset's election committee will also change hands in the next few days. The defense and foreign affairs committee is taken over by Avigdor Lieberman, party leader for "Israel our home". It is a very difficult and sought-after position. The chairman of the committee can summon the prime minister and the heads of the defense branches for questioning.

Gadi Eizenkot of the Yashar party, who was appointed to form the government on Sunday, has a long way to go before he can present a new government. But the new Knesset majority will begin legislating despite Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right cabinet remaining as minister-in-charge.

Netanyahu views all this with growing concern, not to say panic. On Monday, he appealed to the public to work for a coalition government, recalling how during the election campaign he pleaded for cooperation across bloc borders. This is untrue: during the campaign he dearly and sacredly promised never to cooperate with the four opposition parties.

When Netanyahu is fighting for his political survival, as his countrymen know, no limits apply anymore. At the same time that Netanyahu brandishes his opponents for enlisting the help of the Arab parties to refurbish the Knesset, his associates have contacted and negotiated with leading Arab politicians. Nathan Eshel, former head of the prime minister's office, has contacted the leader of the Islamist Ra'am party, Mansour Abbas, in the hope of overturning the so-called impeachment law. This law, which Netanyahu's opponents hope to push through as soon as possible, aims to prevent indicted individuals - such as Netanyahu - from forming a government.

Another weighty decision on the way in the Knesset is the nomination of an independent commission of inquiry, tasked with reviewing the government's actions before and after the outbreak of the Gaza war. The outgoing government's measures to politically control the judiciary, the administration and the press will be rolled back.

The new speaker of the Knesset, former fighter pilot Matan Kahana, is a right-wing nationalist and sworn opponent of Netanyahu - not a common combination in today's Israel. He is far from a dream candidate for the Arab parties who will vote for him, but they do not hesitate. Ahmad Tibi, leader of "The United List", with eleven seats, explained in the Knesset before the vote:

- Our overriding priority is to get rid of Netanyahu, his police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and the other fascists in the government. That is our goal and we will not be distracted by trifles.

However, Netanyahu is far from calculated. If Gadi Eizenkot fails to form a government, Netanyahu will likely get the job. The Prime Minister will then possibly fail on purpose, in order to lead the country towards yet another election.

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