The Knesset (Hebrew for assembly) is the Israeli parliament, or legislative body, and is located in western Jerusalem. The unicameral parliament consists of 120 lawmakers, known as Knesset members or MKs, each chosen to represent their respective political parties for terms lasting no longer than four years between elections.
Among its functions, the Knesset enacts laws, supervises the work of the government, and reserves the power to remove the president and the state comptroller from office. It can also vote to dissolve itself and call new elections.
The first Israeli parliament convened on February 14, 1949, although it was not yet known as the Knesset. On February 16, the Constituent Assembly, as it was then called, ratified the Transition Law, thereby changing its name to the First Knesset, and elected Chaim Weizmann as the first president of the State of Israel.
The Knesset has been addressed by countless heads of state throughout the years. Undoubtedly one of the most memorable of these occasions came on November 20, 1977, when then Egyptian president Anwar Sadat took the plenum and addressed Israeli lawmakers, calling for peace between Israel and Egypt.
A proposal, sponsored by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, would allow the legal adviser of a government ministry to be not the person who’s most professionally qualified, but the person the minister most wants to appoint
Hamas refuses to allow reciprocal visits by humanitarian organizations to the Israelis being held in Gaza
A member of the Ministerial Committee tells Haaretz that the bill, which is slated to go on vote Sunday, isn't expected to pass ■ The bill calls for imprisonment of those hurting Israeli interests, but doesn't explain what they are
Whether it’s against Arabs or ‘the left,’ the prime minister keeps increasing the dose of hatred so that Israelis will keep getting a high
There’s no doubt that Netanyahu’s mind is already focused on his Likud party’s next campaign, but also on the day after the election
Avichai Mendelblit was faced with harsh criticism after he issued 'cautious’ guidelines for investigating public figures
The repeal could deprive the state of $138 million, but the panel says the tax has failed to get a single Israeli to work in agriculture or construction
The Likud Party was fined $50,000 over an event organized by a private businessmen designed to advance the party's interests
The main task of the governing coalition will be to pass the military conscription bill, while Netanyahu must also meet two promises he made before the summer recess
Author Ilan Sheinfeld to set up party 'assisted by the intellectual, political and activist forces of the LGBTQ community'