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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.

Knesset's new law on religious courts and what it means for democracy - opinion

The bill in question would further expand their authority, allowing rabbinical courts and Sharia courts to rule as arbitrators on civil matters.

|ByANAT THON ASHKENAZY
Knesset constitution, Law and Justice Committee Chairman Simcha Rothman (standing) speaks to Justice Minister Yariv Levin in the Knesset plenum.
THE KNESSET votes last month on a bill to hold an early election. The legislation failed. Still, elections are likely to come soon, the writer maintains.

Netanyahu's Likud loses seats, Bennett, Smotrich gain seats in latest poll

According to the survey, Netanyahu’s coalition could retain 51 seats, while an opposition led by Bennett would hold strong with 59.

|ByMAARIV
MK Ayman Odeh attends Hadash–Ta'al faction meeting, at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on June 30, 2025.

Over 120 former MKs oppose Ayman Odeh's removal in joint letter

Among the signatories are former President Reuven Rivlin, as well as former Prime Ministers Ehud Olmert and Ehud Barak.

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Conference at Knesset included rare speeches by Saudi and Syrian nationals.

'Gaza remains main obstacle to regional peace deal,' leading Saudi journalist tells 'Post'

Saudi and Syrian nationals spoke at a rare conference in the Knesset, with one telling the 'Post' that "Gaza is the main obstacle to regional peace".

|ByELIAV BREUER

Gideon Sa'ar resigns as Knesset member, will continue as Foreign Minister

Israeli-Druze politician Akram Hasson is slated to take Sa'ar's place as an MK per the Likud party list.

JULY 8, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa'ar attend a Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem June 17, 2025.

‘Part of me stayed in Gaza’: Former hostage Keith Siegel recounts harrowing ordeal to Knesset

“I was there for 484 days. They have been there for 641 days. It is very hard to describe in words the suffering they are enduring,” Siegel said.

JULY 8, 2025ByELIAV BREUER
download high resolution download low resolution add to lightbox file name: F250326MA06 File Size: 6680 KB caption (en): The opening of Keith Siegel pancake house, a former Israeli hostage, at Sarona market in Tel Aviv, March 26, 2025.

Haredi parties ramp up pressure after Edelstein IDF draft bill delayed

The boycott marked an uptick in the haredi parties’ pressure campaign, as they had previously refrained from boycotting the plenum on Monday.

JULY 7, 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.

A-G: Turning my firing process political is illegal, opens door to political deals

The government's decision to change the hiring and firing process is ‘fundamental, tectonic,’ and will affect the entire future of the position.

JULY 7, 2025BySARAH BEN-NUN
Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara attends a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee in the Knesset, April 27, 2025.

'Counterproductive incentive': Hardest-hit Gaza border towns slam gov't canceling return grant

The lawyers stated in the letter that the heads of the towns in question will petition the High Court of Justice if the government decision is not repealed.

JULY 7, 2025ByELIAV BREUER
The destruction caused by Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Kissufim on October 7, 2023, near the Israeli-Gaza border, in southern Israel, November 20, 2023.

Haredi rabbi calls Likud MK Yuli Edelstein 'traitor' over draft law

'There’s someone in Likud who is a traitor to Israel and a scheming saboteur because he wants to rule and become prime minister,' says Butbul.

JULY 7, 2025ByAVRAHAM BLOCH
Likud MK Yuli Edelstein attends a a plenum session in the Knesset, in Jerusalem, June 4, 2025

Netanyahu strengthens, Bennett struggles to form gov't, Eisenkot gains mandate in newest poll

The poll surveyed 511 respondents, representing a representative sample of Israel’s adult population (Jewish and Arab, over the age of 18).

JULY 5, 2025ByAVRAHAM BLOCH, MOSHE COHEN
THE KNESSET votes last month on a bill to hold an early election. The legislation failed. Still, elections are likely to come soon, the writer maintains.

Could Gadi Eisenkot succeed Netanyahu as Israel’s next leader? - opinion

MIDDLE ISRAEL: Eisenkot may emerge as Israel’s next leader because he has become a symbol of Middle Israel’s agonies, having lost, in the current war, a son and a nephew.

JULY 4, 2025ByAMOTZ ASA-EL
GADI EISENKOT after announcing his resignation in Tel Aviv.

Victory over Iran means that Israel must end the war in Gaza - opinion

Hamas will not disappear overnight, but the territory in Gaza can be stabilized to secure a victory over Iran.

JULY 4, 2025ByYAAKOV KATZ
PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu meets with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff earlier this year. While much attention has been focused on the Gaza ceasefire proposal advanced by Witkoff, the deeper, longer-term challenge remains Iran, says the writer.

Knesset bill would narrow eligibility for Israel citizenship

The bill would eliminate a clause in the law that extends the right of citizenship to individuals who are not considered Jewish under religious law but have at least one Jewish grandparent.

JULY 4, 2025ByASAF SHALEV/JTA
Avi Maoz, the far-right lawmaker from the Noam party, is the author of a bill meant to align Israel's rules for citizenship with Orthodox standards.

Text of Haredi draft law expected in Knesset committee within days

The text is expected to reflect agreements reached between Edelstein and representatives of the Knesset’s haredi parties on June 12.

JULY 3, 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.