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.
Health Ministry will recommend limiting crowds at banquets, bars and restaurants to only 50 people, and reducing the number of people permitted at houses of worship to up to 20
Arguing that imposing fines is ineffective in dealing with prostitution clients, Amir Ohana wants to wait until therapeutic alternatives are available
Last week, the Knesset approved Netanyahu's request for a retroactive tax break on payments, services and privileges he received as part of his job during 2009 to 2017
Two separate bills call for decriminalizing the use or possession of small quantities of cannabis, but the government said it would introduce its own legislation on the subject instead
'It could be that we’ll halt the illness and flatten the curve even before we finish the legislation, but we want to be in a position where we can use this tool if we choose,' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says
There seems to be no chance of a commission of inquiry being appointed into Israel’s failures in handling the coronavirus pandemic. But senior politicians don’t like taking unnecessary chances, and they take no prisoners
Law would allow the cabinet to declare a state of emergency without requiring the Knesset's approval
Coalition sources say the fact the bill to ban the widely discredited, harmful practice is even being considered is an achievement, but members of the opposition argue it wasn't immediately disqualified only to minimize potential backlash against two openly gay ministers
Knesset will have its first vote on the bill on Wednesday, as government presses ahead with cannabis reform
Osnat Mark said that Likud wants to see its 'values' reflected, when asked whether she would support naming Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit or former prosecutor Shai Nitzan to sit on the Supreme Court
Another cabinet member is expected to resign on Thursday, meaning that five new MKs will be sworn in, but the coalition will lose one Knesset seat to the opposition
The change in the law permits recipients of government allowances to receive retroactive unemployment compensation from March through June without reducing their other benefits
Jewish Agency projects that number of immigrants is set to rise in 2021, but immigrants to Israel still face challenges in aliyah process because of COVID-19
Likud ministers are talking about another election as a plain fact. The only question, they say, is whether it will be held in the winter or spring
Haaretz and its fellow petitioners argue that keeping cabinet meetings confidential prevents appropriate public debate about them
The parties said that the legislation will present 'a responsible model that will suit the State of Israel and the Israeli population'
Still, Oded Forer of right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu has the support of the head of his party’s women’s forum and of Labor legislator Merav Michaeli
Shin Bet chief tells government panel his organization shouldn't be involved in a civilian matter ■ Ministers green light bill on government's authority to impose emergency regulations
The cabinet would be able to repeatedly renew a 30-day state of emergency, but the police would still need a warrant to enter a person's home
The legislation advanced by Public Security Minister Amir Ohana permits remote meetings if there is a fear of infection; the public has only two days to comment on the expedited legislation
Joint List lawmaker Sami Abu Shehadeh and his staff have entered isolation, as dozens of Israeli schools close amid uptick in virus cases
The new justice minister is considering a maximum state of emergency of five months, not 10, while a Knesset committee would have veto power
Netanyahu assures public that extended powers do not include police entering homes without a warrant to enforce quarantine
An emergency regulation which has been in place since 2003 allows the government to refuse residency visas to Palestinians who are married to Israelis or have first-degree relatives here
