Israel's 26th Knesset sworn in, coalition talks intensify

What happened

• Israel's 26th Knesset was sworn in at a ceremonial session in Jerusalem attended by President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Speaker Amir Ohana, with 120 MKs taking the oath, 46 or 47 of them first-timers by different counts.The Times of IsraelIsrael National NewsThe Forward
• Herzog used his opening remarks to urge the new parliament to serve a full term and avoid another election, to resolve the Haredi draft question and to investigate the October 7 attack.JNS.orgThe Forward
• Netanyahu, now a caretaker prime minister after President Herzog tasked Gadi Eisenkot with forming a government, delivered a speech calling for a unity government while saying the Arab parties aim at Israel's destruction and must be excluded; Naftali Bennett heckled him over his aides' Qatar ties, Yair Golan walked out, and most Arab MKs were absent from the hall for the anthem.The Times of IsraelThe Times of Israeli24NEWS
• Eisenkot called the speech divisive and hate-filled and cancelled a negotiating meeting set with Likud, while Likud said Netanyahu would still meet any faction seeking unity and questioned why talks with the Arab parties continue.ynetIsrael HayomArutz ShevaYahoojpost.com
• Before and after the ceremony Eisenkot's bloc moved to take control of parliament: 67 signatures were submitted to replace Speaker Ohana with Matan Kahana in a vote set for Nov. 17, committee chairmanships were divided, and bills were filed to create an October 7 state inquiry and to roll back the judicial overhaul, while Shas restated its backing for Netanyahu and United Torah Judaism refused to join the speaker move.The Guardian

Why it matters

Netanyahu's bloc lost its majority, so whether Eisenkot can assemble 61 seats — and on what terms with the Haredi parties and the Arab parties — decides both who governs and whether Israel heads to another election.Reutersynet

Where coverage differs

• International outlets such as Reuters, AP, the Guardian and the Washington Post largely framed the day as the opposition moving to unseat Netanyahu and reverse his policies, while much of the Israeli right-leaning press led with the dispute over relying on Arab lawmakers and with warnings from Netanyahu's allies.ReutersAP NewsThe GuardianThe Washington Post
• Israeli centrist outlets and the Jewish press stressed the arithmetic and conditions of coalition talks and the personal stories of new MKs, while Channel 14 and similar outlets foregrounded Arab MKs leaving the plenum, protests outside and claims about conflicts of interest in the bloc's appointments.ynetThe ForwardThe Times of Israel

What pro-Israel voices are saying

• Arsen Ostrovsky remarked that Eisenkot moved quickly to get to work after the swearing-in.
• AIPAC highlighted the standing ovation for new MK Elisha Madan, who lost both legs in Gaza and stood on prosthetics to take the oath.