Jerusalem:Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political bloc experienced its first defeat in the recently elected Knesset when opposition and Arab parties gained a majority in a vote to establish the Arrangements Committee.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, the proposal was approved with 63 votes in favor and 50 against, appointing Roy Folkman of Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party as the committee chair. The Knesset confirmed on its website that lawmakers agreed to the proposal put forth by Folkman, which also defined the committee's composition.

Under the newly approved arrangement, Netanyahu's Likud party will have five seats on the committee. Meanwhile, Yesh Atid, the Joint List, the Democrats, and the United Arab List (Ra'am) will each have two seats. Additionally, Yisrael Beiteinu, Otzma Yehudit, United Torah Judaism, Shas, and Religious Zionism will be allocated one seat each.

Yashar announced on Tuesday that an agreement had been reached with other parties in the opposition's Change Bloc to appoint Folkman as the committee chairman. Likud criticized this decision, accusing parties led by Eisenkot, Avigdor Lieberman, and Naftali Bennett of aligning with Arab lawmakers Ahmad Tibi and Mansour Abbas. Likud further called for an end to cooperation with Arab parties, alleging their support for terrorism and boycotting Israel's national anthem.

The Israel Democracy Institute notes that the Arrangements Committee is responsible for organizing parliamentary work at the beginning of a new Knesset term. This includes proposing the composition of permanent parliamentary committees before its responsibilities are transferred to the Knesset Committee. Traditionally, the committee is chaired by a lawmaker from the party whose leader is tasked with forming a government.

The Knesset is set to elect a new speaker next Tuesday to succeed outgoing Likud lawmaker Amir Ohana. Additionally, the parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is expected to be formed shortly, with Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman slated to lead it.

In the October 27 elections, Netanyahu's bloc won 53 seats, while other opposition parties secured 48 and Arab parties claimed 19 seats in the 120-member Knesset. Combined, the opposition and Arab parties hold 67 seats, surpassing the 61-seat majority required to form a government and pass legislation.