Amid Israel’s evolving political landscape, former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot announced on Tuesday that he had reached an agreement with fellow Opposition leaders on candidates for key positions in the 26th Knesset, with former minister Matan Kahana as the candidate for Knesset speaker.
Eisenkot, in a post on X, confirmed an agreement among opposition leaders. “I have reached an agreement with my partners, the leaders of the change and reform parties—Naftali Bennett, Yair Golan, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Lapid—on the prospective candidates for key positions in the 26th Knesset during the period for forming a government. At the centre of Eisenkot’s picks for the 26th Knesset stands Kahana, a military veteran who has also held government positions.
Kahana previously headed the ministry of religious services from 2021 to 2022. Kahana remained an Member of Knesset (MK) until July 2025, when he resigned from his seat, according to The Jerusalem Post . Kahana served concurrently with former prime minister and B’Yachad party leader Naftali Bennett, before moving to the Israel Air Force’s Flight Academy, becoming an F-16 pilot, the report added.
Eisenkot said the members agreed on former minister Matan Kahana as Speaker of the Knesset, Roi Folkman as Chair of the House Committee, former defense minister Avigdor Lieberman as Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and Liran Avisar Ben-Horin as Chair of the Finance Committee. Earlier reporting noted: Eisenkot further said the agreement names Roy Folkman as chair of the house committee, former defense minister and Avigdor Lieberman as chair of the foreign affairs and defense committee, and incoming Liran Avisar Ben-Horrin as chair of the finance committee. This comes after Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Sunday gave Eisenkot the initial mandate to form a government. Earlier reporting noted: Eisenkot reaches agreement with Opposition leaders on Israel’s Knesset posts, names Matan Kahana as speaker The former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot on Tuesday said he had reached an agreement with fellow Opposition leaders – Naftali Bennett, Yair Golan, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Lapid on candidates for key positions in the Knesset during the government formation period, with former minister and incoming Matan Kahana named as the candidate for Knesset speaker.
