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Knesset

The Knesset is the legislative branch of the Israeli government. Its name, whose Hebrew translation means literally 'the gathering' or 'the assembly, is a derivative of the ancient Great Assembly,' the gathering of 120 sages that governed the Jewish people between the end of the Biblical prophets until 200 B.C. The Knesset is the national legislature of the State of Israel and passes all of the country's laws, in addition to electing the president, approving the cabinet and supervising governmental work. The Knesset functions as the unicameral national legislature in Israel in a parliamentary manner, with elections forming members of Knesset (MKs) held at least every fourth year. Knesset history The Knesset first convened on February 14th, 1949, taking over for transitional governments that had existed since Israel declared independence on May 14th, 1948, and met in the Jewish Agency building in Jerusalem. Between March and December of that year the legislature was moved to Tel Aviv, the only period the Knesset was not seated in Jerusalem. Following a four-month return to the Jewish Agency building, the Knesset moved to King George Street in the city center, where it remained until the current complex was opened in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Givat Ram, August 31st, 1966. The Knesset complex was funded by British Liberal politician James de Rothschild and has underwent two major additions, completed in 1992 and 2007. Knesset functions The Knesset sets the laws of the State of Israel and oversees governmental works via a series of 12 permanent committees, which include ones focused on foreign affairs and defense, education and culture, economics and the status of women, among others. Special committees can also be formed when necessity arises, such as the central elections committee and the public petitions committee, among others. The Knesset, as a parliamentary system, is presided over by the Speaker of Knesset and passes laws based off a simple majority of the 120-member voting bloc. Israel's prime minister, as head of the ruling party, is determined by the party best able to form a coalition comprised of at the minimum a simple majority. Knesset seats are allocated based on proportional representation using the D'Hondt method and parties are admitted to Knesset when passing an election threshold of 3.25 percent. Members of Knesset have the ability to raise a vote of no confidence in the government or in government ministers, a move that was only once successful in Knesset's history. Likewise, in order for a prime minister to be named, the candidate must receive a vote of confidence on the Knesset floor before taking office. Knesset assemblies There have been 20 assemblies of Knesset in Israel's history, each referred to by its election number. The First Knesset, under the auspices of prime minister David Ben-Gurion, was in session from 1949 until 1951. Elections occurred by and large every fourth year, unless elections were called early. However, no Knesset term lasted fewer than three years, except for the 19th Knesset, which lasted from 2013 until 2015.

New haredi draft proposal by reservist NGOs gains traction on Knesset, still no clear framework

According to the proposal, all haredi men will receive draft summons and be required to serve in the IDF, although the outline does not explain why it would be limited to men.

|ByELIAV BREUER
Ultra-Orthodox Jews clash with police outside the IDF Recruitment Center at Tel Hashomer, central Israel, April 28, 2025
Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef during a shaharit prayer in the northern Israeli city of Tzfat, September 17, 2024.

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's attacks on Edelstein ignore his sacrifices for Judaism - opinion

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef seems to ignore who Yuli Edelstein really is: someone who physically risked his life for the observance of Torah and mitzvot.

|ByASHER MAOZ
A plenum session on the state budget in the assembly hall of the Israeli parliament, December 16, 2024.

Israel's Constitution Committee debates revised NGO funding bill

The initial version of the bill that passed a preliminary vote in February would have slapped an 80% tax on “foreign state entity” donations to NGOs.

|ByELIAV BREUER
Benjamin Netanyahu and Yuli Edelstein seen at the Knesset on November 4, 2021

Netanyahu's Likud to remove Edelstein from key committee over haredi draft fallout

A replacement for Edelstein on the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee may be willing to make concessions that Edelstein was not willing to make, thus allowing the bill to proceed.

|ByELIAV BREUER

Defense Minister Katz pushes bill improving IDF soldiers' conditions

According to Katz, the bill will improve the service of all soldiers, "who fight like lions for Israel's security."

JULY 21, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Defense Minister Israel Katz attends a state memorial ceremony for Operation Protective Edge at the National Memorial Hall at the entrance to the military cemetery on Mount Herzl, July 6, 2025

With the haredi parties out of gov't, future of haredi draft bill unclear - analysis

The bill likely hinges on whether or not Edelstein remains head of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

JULY 20, 2025ByELIAV BREUER
Haredi men are seen protesting the effort to draft ultra-Orthodox Israelis into the IDF.

A-G: Gov't decision to fire A-G is faulty, must be subjected to judicial review before advancement

The decision “opened the door to firing the attorney-general - the general prosecutor - based on foreign factors and calculations, including regarding ongoing criminal investigations,” she wrote. 

JULY 20, 2025BySARAH BEN-NUN, ELIAV BREUER
Attorney general Gali Baharav Miara attends a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee leads a committee meeting in the Knesset in Jerusalem.

Will the Knesset recess open a window for a deal? Netanyahu’s political breathing room - analysis

The Knesset's upcoming recess will potentially give PM Benjamin Netanyahu time to broker a hostage deal and figure out a solution to the issue of the haredi draft law.

JULY 20, 2025ByANNA BARSKY
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir at a Knesset debate, July 14, 2025; illustrative.

Israel's post-holiday politics: Will Netanyahu take a political hit to keep coalition intact?

NATIONAL AFFAIRS: With Shas out of the government, Netanyahu faces a decision between taking a hit to maintain the coalition or preparing for the upcoming elections.

JULY 18, 2025ByHERB KEINON
Even as Shas followed United Torah Judaism’s lead and declared on Wednesday it was leaving the government, it did so with a major caveat: ‘We are leaving the government, but we are not quitting the coalition.’ Here, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sits alongside Shas chairman Arye Deri in 2023.

Deri to remain in Netanyahu's security cabinet, Shas's Arbel rescinds resignation

Arye Deri to remain in Netanyahu's security cabinet, despite Shas leaving government • Interior Minister Moshe Arbel to stay in role to complete 'urgent tasks'

JULY 17, 2025ByELIAV BREUER
ARYE DERI is escorted outside his home in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

Knesset election dynamics largely unchanged despite Shas, UTJ leaving gov't, N12 poll finds

Israel's Channel 12 conducted a poll on general election scenarios following the Sephardi-haredi Shas Party's Wednesday announcement that they are leaving the coalition.

JULY 16, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir at a Knesset debate, July 14, 2025; illustrative.

Lapid calls Netanyahu's gov't 'illegitimate' following Shas's exit from coalition

Israeli officials react to Shas's decision to exit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

JULY 16, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Head of opposition and head of the Yesh Atid party MK Yair Lapid leads a faction meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on June 30, 2025.

Shas spiritual leaders order party members to quit government

Shas's leaders directed MKs not to topple the government, though their decision shrinks Netanyahu's coalition to 29 MKs.

JULY 16, 2025ByELIAV BREUER, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Head of Shas party Arye Deri, June 8, 2025.

Does UTJ’s departure mean that Israel is heading to an election? - analysis

The short answer is probably yes, but not immediately.

JULY 15, 2025ByELIAV BREUER
Ultra orthodox jews at the headquarters of United Torah Judaism list for the Beit Shemesh municipality, during the Municipal Elections, in Beit Shemesh, February 27, 2024.

Edelstein to haredim: Now is not time to topple government

Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chair Yuli Edelstein called on haredi politicians to exhibit “national responsibility.”

JULY 15, 2025ByELIAV BREUER
Committee Chairman Yuli Edelstein leads a Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem on May 8, 2025.