Knesset Panel Approves Temporary Committees, Naming Liberman Defense Chair

The 26th Knesset’s Arrangements Committee approved temporary Foreign Affairs and Defense and Finance committees on Wednesday, November 11. Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman was selected to lead the defense panel, while Liran Avishar Ben-Horin of Together was selected to chair the finance panel. Members of the Arab parties joined the majority supporting the appointments. Arrangements Committee chairman Roy Folkman of Yashar said agreement had been reached on allocating committee seats. He stressed lawmakers’ responsibility to establish the temporary panels and allow them to work, while calling for respectful discussion despite disagreements. “In the Knesset of Israel, every person and their views must be respected,” Folkman said. Avishar Ben-Horin addressed possible conflicts of interest, saying rules governing ministers do not apply in the same way to Knesset members. She nevertheless volunteered to follow the strictest rules and said she would step aside from matters she could not handle, appointing someone else to deal with them. Earlier Wednesday, the plenary approved Folkman’s proposal for the Arrangements Committee by 63 votes to 50. The temporary committees will handle urgent finance and security business until a new government is formed and permanent committees are established.