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Following a two-month break, the Knesset will reconvene today to begin its summer session. A number of significant bills are already under consideration.

Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid and Tzipi Livni’s Hatnuah Party are expected to spearhead a range of social reforms. These include measures to expand the recognition of same-sex couples and a law to enact civil marriage in Israel. They are expected to also challenge the state rabbinate, which wields control over many issues of personal status, including conversion. However, coalition partner Jewish Home will likely oppose some of the proposed measures. Towards the end of the last Knesset session, Jewish Home Minister Uri Ariel scuppered Yesh Atid’s bill to grant same-sex couples equal surrogacy rights, an issue likely to be reintroduced.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to advance a bill to anchor Israel’s identity as the nation-state of the Jewish people in the form of a Basic Law. The idea has already proven controversial, with Justice Minister Livni pledging to oppose such a move, arguing that the state’s Jewish identity is already enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. Although Netanyahu has said that absolute equality will continue to be guaranteed for all citizens, opponents have said it could have a negative impact on the country’s minorities.

The most immediate issue which is set to be concluded today is the appointment of a new chair of the crucial Knesset Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee. For the past seven months, Netanyahu and Lapid have been unable to agree on who should head the influential body, prompting Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein to intervene. A compromise has apparently been reached, with the two parties sharing the role. Likud’s Ze’ev Elkin and Yariv Levin are expected to fill the post jointly for an initial 18 months before a Yesh Atid MK takes the reins for an equal spell.

Although no date has been confirmed, the Knesset will also elect a new president to succeed Shimon Peres during the current session.