Likud’s Yariv Levin elected provision al Knesset Speaker

All 64 members of the designated PM Binyamin Netanyahu’s bloc supported his nomination of Yair Levin as provisional Knesset Speaker to serve up until the swearing in of his government. Levin’s job is to expedite the passage of legislation to accommodate certain terms laid down by far right and ultra-religious parties for joining the coalition. Levin was challenged for the post by United Arab List leader Ayman Odeh and Yesh Atid MK Merav Ben-Ari on behalf of the designated opposition.  Netanyahu, addressing the House after the vote, pledged that the existing status quo of relations between religion and state would remain in force.