Knesset
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| Knesset | |
|---|---|
 User:אורי פרקש · Public domain · source | |
| Name | Knesset |
| Native name | הכנסת |
| Legislature | 25th |
| House type | Unicameral |
| Established | 1949 |
| Predecessor | Provisional State Council |
| Leader1 type | Speaker |
| Leader1 | Amir Ohana |
| Members | 120 |
| Voting system | Closed-list proportional representation |
| Last election | 2022 |
| Meeting place | Knesset Building, Jerusalem |
Knesset is the unicameral national legislature of Israel, established after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War and the declaration of the State of Israel. It convenes in the Knesset Building in Jerusalem and comprises 120 members elected by nationwide proportional representation. The body enacts laws, supervises the Prime Minister of Israel and the Cabinet, approves budgets, and ratifies international agreements.
History
The institution was formed following the 1948 Arab–Israeli War and the first elections held under the Provisional State Council. Early sessions occurred amid the aftermath of the UN Partition Plan for Palestine and the establishment of state institutions such as the Israel Defense Forces and the Supreme Court of Israel. Major historical milestones include the passage of foundational statutes paralleling the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel, the absorption of waves of aliyah from regions affected by events like the Suez Crisis and the Six-Day War, and legislative responses to the Oslo Accords and the Camp David Accords. The legislature has weathered political crises including governmental collapses after votes of no confidence, coalitional realignments involving parties such as Likud, Labour, Yesh Atid, Shas, and United Torah Judaism, and legal confrontations with the Supreme Court of Israel over judicial review.
Structure and Organization
The assembly consists of 120 members who form parliamentary groups representing parties such as Likud, National Unity, Yamina, Religious Zionist Party, and Ra'am (United Arab List). Leadership roles include the Speaker, Deputy Speakers, and faction whips. Internal organs encompass the Presidium, the Knesset Secretariat, and specialized research units that interact with institutions like the State Comptroller of Israel and the Minister of Finance. Parliamentary immunity, ethics committees, and disciplinary procedures regulate member conduct and intersect with bodies such as the Attorney General of Israel and the High Court of Justice.
Electoral System and Composition
Members are elected by closed-list proportional representation using the entire country as a single electoral district, with an electoral threshold set by law; parties such as Hadash–Ta'al and Meretz have navigated this threshold historically. The system produces multiparty coalitions involving blocs like the Arab parties, secular-liberal parties, religious-national parties, and ultra-Orthodox parties. Electoral administration is overseen by the Central Elections Committee (Israel) and subject to laws passed by earlier legislatures, influenced by events such as the 1951 Israeli legislative election, the 1977 legislative election (Israel), and the repeat ballots of the 2019–2022 period. Campaign finance and candidate registration engage institutions including the Ministry of Justice (Israel) and various civil society groups.
Powers and Functions
Statutory authority includes lawmaking, budget approval, and oversight of the executive through mechanisms like question times, interpellations, and no-confidence motions. Treaty ratification and declarations related to national security involve interaction with the Prime Minister of Israel, the Minister of Defense, and the President of Israel. The legislature exercises appointment powers for some public offices in coordination with entities such as the Knesset Legal Adviser and the President of Israel for roles including members of advisory councils and certain judicial appointments. Oversight extends to inquiries into events like the Yom Kippur War and investigations by ad hoc commissions, and it legislates on matters ranging from immigration laws affected by the Law of Return to budgetary allocations scrutinized by the Finance Committee.
Committees
Permanent committees include the Finance Committee, Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, and the Labor, Welfare and Health Committee, each interfacing with ministries such as the Ministry of Finance (Israel), Ministry of Defense (Israel), and Ministry of Health (Israel). Special committees and investigative committees have been convened for issues tied to crises like the Gaza–Israel conflict and domestic events such as the Pardes Hanna shootings and large-scale protests. Each committee invites testimony from officials from institutions like the Israel Police, the State Comptroller of Israel, and academic experts from universities such as Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University.
Procedure and Sessions
Plenary sessions follow a legislative calendar set by the Presidium and the Speaker, including readings that mirror practices of other legislatures while incorporating Israeli legal traditions originating in the early laws of statehood. Bills may be proposed by ministers, Knesset members, or committees and proceed through preliminary reading, committee deliberations, and subsequent readings before passage; emergency legislation has been used during wartime and security crises such as the Second Intifada and the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. Voting methods include roll-call and voice votes; quorum and voting thresholds are determined by standing orders enacted by prior legislatures.
Building and Facilities
The assembly meets in the Knesset Building complex in Givat Ram, Jerusalem, a short distance from landmarks such as the Israel Museum and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Mount Scopus). The complex houses plenary chambers, committee rooms, a parliamentary library, archives, and offices for parliamentary groups and staff. Security is provided by units of the Shin Bet and coordination with the Israel Police and the Knesset Guard (Israel). The site also contains monuments and artworks tied to national memory, located near civic institutions including the Museum of Tolerance and the Jerusalem International Convention Center.