Israel Coalition Talks: Islamist Party Freezes Negotiations in Wake of Jerusalem, Gaza Flare-up
Yair Lapid says that not all potential coalition partners will get what they want, but argues everyone understands Israel 'needs to change direction'
Knesset
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.
Israel Coalition Talks: Bennett's Party Expects to Form Gov't 'This Week,' After Meeting With Islamist Leader
Meanwhile, Bennett is gathering members of the anti-Netanyahu bloc for a meeting as some MKs mull leaving the faction amid mounting public pressure
Israel's Election System Is Bankrupt. Why Not Try These Extreme Out-of-the-box Alternatives?
From election-by-raffle to a sectarian system like in Lebanon, here’s some out-of-the-ballot-box thinking for how Israel might finally get a functioning government. Sounds crazy? Not any more than a fifth election in the summer
Explained With Midnight Coalition Deadline, Here's How Netanyahu May Try to Foil Lapid
With his deadline set to expire on Tuesday at midnight, Netanyahu might even bring a government to a vote at the Knesset in a bid to force his right-wing rivals' hands
Likud to Abbas: Back Direct Election of Premier, Get a Plum Job
Deputy Knesset speaker’s role on offer to United Arab List leader
In Bid to End Political Stalemate, Netanyahu Ally Floats Direct Vote for Prime Minister
Netanyahu is said to support a Shas bid to pass the necessary legislation to change Israel's electoral process, but a source involved in the effort acknowledged it has 'no political or legal prospects'
Netanyahu Appoints Ally to Head Key Knesset Committee Until New Government Is Formed
Likud lawmaker Miki Zohar will chair the influential Arrangements Committee, which decides on the composition of parliamentary panels, and sets the Knesset's agenda as long as a caretaker government is in place
As a New Israeli Parliament Is Sworn In, President Urges Unity, Netanyahu Pleads With Rivals to 'Stop Boycotts'
Knesset speaker from Netanyahu's party takes a jab at Israel's judiciary in opening speech, saying 'democracy is better than a regime of judges who intervene without authority'
Israel Election Results: President Rivlin Tasks Netanyahu With Trying to Form Government
Rivlin says no candidate had real chance of forming new Israeli government, but picks Netanyahu as he had the most endorsements 52, vs. Yair Lapid's 45 and Naftali Bennett's seven
Israel Election Results: Who Was Meir Kahane, and Why Is His Racist Legacy Relevant Again
Brooklyn-born Meir Kahane was banned from Israeli politics in 1988, but the spirit of his anti-Arab Kach party lives on in an extremist alliance that just won six Knesset seats ■ Israel election 2021
Israel Election Results: Real-time Vote Count Updates
Israel elections 2021: Live and final results updated in real-time in what is seen as a highly charged referendum on the divisive rule of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Beyond Netanyahu: Five Key Events to Watch on Israel's Election Night
From the possibility of a Kahanist in the next Israeli cabinet to a Reform rabbi being elected for the first time ever, here are five crucial characters and trends to look out for on Tuesday
Analysis Netanyahu’s Dream Government Is a Nightmare for Everyone Else
If Netanyahu succeeds in the upcoming Israeli election and forms the next government with an unholy alliance of far-right and religious extremists, democracy will suffer, and so will the country's ties with the United States
Netanyahu Claims He’s Not Involved in Promoting Bills That Could Save Him From Trial
‘I’m not intervening in this at all, neither promoting it nor blocking it,’ the prime minister insists after a lawmaker from his Likud party said he plans to table legislation
The Idiot’s Guide to Israel’s Idiotic Election: How We Got Here | Part 1
In the first of a series of articles ahead of Israel’s March 23 election, a brief history of Jewish governance – and why the numbers 3.25 and 61 are so important in this election
Analysis The Joint List Gave the Israeli Arab Public Hope. Its Breakup Brings Despair
The splintering of the Arab vote could result in a right-wing government with extreme elements
Day Before Netanyahu Court Hearing, Knesset Speaker Calls to Suspend Trial Until After Election
Ahead of a scheduled hearing in which Netanyahu must appear, Yariv Levin claims holding hearings before vote is 'blatant election interference'
Emboldened Labor and Meretz Nix Last-minute Merger, Hoping Both Will Get Enough Votes
Parties plan to run markedly different campaigns to distinguish themselves from each other, as latest polls find both with enough support to enter the Knesset in Israel's March election
How Media Personalities Became the Israeli Left’s New Generals
Three parties on the left or center of Israeli politics are now headed by former television stars who all learned their craft on live TV – and it’s no coincidence
Former 'Likud Prince' Begin Joins Netanyahu Challenger Sa'ar
Son of former Prime Minister Begin once served under Netanyahu and now joins his chief rival to end 'crude, scathing attacks' on Israel's democracy
Netanyahu Making Progress in Bid to Cancel His Corruption Trial
The premier is hoping that his success in having his indictments amended will lead Knesset legal adviser to decide he has the right to request immunity again
Israeli Legislator Conceals Meeting Party Officials in Epidemiological Investigation
The Knesset member, Israel Eichler, had been at political meeting two days before announcing he had contracted COVID-19
Sa'ar Reveals Plan for Justice System: Curb AG's Power, Public Hearings for Judges
Likud breakaway Sa'ar calls to reform Israel's justice system, opposes Netanyahu's efforts to draft self-serving legislation amid his corruption charges
Israel Legislates Greater Preschool Oversight, but Lacks Funding for More Staff
Originally implemented in September 2019, the Day Care Supervision Law has only been partially implemented in light of the absence of the necessary regulations until now
Critics Call Israeli Parliament Renovation Plan Excessive and Wasteful
Plan to majorly expand office space, parking, and conference rooms slammed by environmental groups and Jerusalem activists
The Outgoing Israeli Parliament Will Be Remembered for All the Wrong Reasons
Failure to advance major legislation, fear of standing up to the government and survival games were all trademarks of the 23rd Knesset