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| Knesset (20th Knesset) | |
|---|---|
| Name | 20th Knesset |
| Native name | כנסת העשרים |
| Legislature | 20th |
| Body | Knesset |
| Country | Israel |
| Meeting place | Knesset, Jerusalem |
| Election | 2015 Israeli legislative election |
| Term start | 2015 |
| Term end | 2019 |
| Members | 120 |
Knesset (20th Knesset) The 20th Knesset convened following the 2015 Israeli legislative election and functioned as the national legislature of Israel from 2015 to 2019, shaping policy during a period marked by tensions involving Benjamin Netanyahu, Avigdor Lieberman, and regional actors such as Hamas and Hezbollah. It operated amid international attention from actors including the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations while interacting with domestic institutions like the Supreme Court of Israel and the Bank of Israel.
The 20th Knesset was formed after the 2015 Israeli legislative election in which the Likud party led by Benjamin Netanyahu and the Zionist Union led by Isaac Herzog and Tzipi Livni were central contestants, alongside lists such as Joint List, Yisrael Beiteinu, Kulanu, Yesh Atid, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Jewish Home, and Meretz. The campaign context included debates over security incidents involving Hamas, the status of Jerusalem, and the aftermath of the 2014 Gaza War, with foreign policy implications tied to the Iran nuclear deal and relations with the United States presidential election, 2016. Coalition negotiations invoked actors like Avigdor Lieberman, Moshe Kahlon, and Naftali Bennett and referenced legal frameworks including the Basic Laws of Israel and procedures of the Central Elections Committee.
The 120-member body comprised blocs from parties such as Likud, Zionist Union, Joint List, Kulanu, Yisrael Beiteinu, Yesh Atid, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Jewish Home, and Meretz. Prominent members included Benjamin Netanyahu, Yair Lapid, Avigdor Lieberman, Moshe Kahlon, Avi Dichter, and Avi Gabbay linked through factional alignments and committee assignments. Minority representation involved Arab parties in the Joint List like Ayman Odeh and Hanin Zoabi, while religious representation featured leaders from Shas and United Torah Judaism such as Aryeh Deri and Yaakov Litzman, influencing votes on matters related to religious Zionism and communal affairs. The numerical balance shaped coalition dynamics under parliamentary rules established in the Basic Law: The Knesset.
Parliamentary leadership included positions held by figures like Yuli Edelstein as Speaker of the Knesset and deputy speakers from parties including Zionist Union and Kulanu, while committee chairs were distributed across factions with chairs in the Finance Committee, Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and Economic Affairs Committee. Committees oversaw oversight of executive actions by the Prime Minister of Israel and ministers such as Avigdor Lieberman and Moshe Kahlon, conducted hearings involving security agencies like the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet, and handled legislation affecting institutions such as the Bank of Israel and the Israel Police.
Legislative output addressed issues including security legislation in response to incidents involving Hamas and ISIS, economic measures promoted by Kulanu and Yesh Atid, and social policies involving pension reform and housing initiatives championed by ministers like Moshe Kahlon. Notable laws and bills debated or passed involved amendments touching on judicial review under the Supreme Court of Israel, budgetary authorizations tied to the Finance Committee, and regulations affecting settlements in the West Bank with implications for the Oslo Accords framework. Legislative scrutiny engaged civil society groups and institutions such as Adalah, Israel Bar Association, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem legal scholars.
The 20th Knesset period saw crises involving coalition stability around figures like Avigdor Lieberman and disputes between Benjamin Netanyahu and his partners, public controversy over judicial appointments involving Aharon Barak-era debates, and security incidents including clashes with Hamas in the Gaza Strip and tensions with Hezbollah along the Lebanon–Israel border. Scandals and investigations involving Netanyahu prompted inquiries by the Israel Police and the State Attorney's Office, influencing coalition negotiations and public demonstrations by groups such as Moslém-affiliated activists and civil society organizations. International developments including the United States embassy relocation to Jerusalem and actions by the European Court of Human Rights also affected domestic politics.
During the term several members resigned, were appointed to ministerial posts, or left to form new factions, triggering replacements under the Knesset's party list system and occasional rotations consistent with agreements like those involving Tzipi Livni and Isaac Herzog. Notable departures and arrivals affected factional strength, with figures such as Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett influencing realignments, and resignations linked to appointments in the Cabinet of Israel or legal investigations overseen by the State Comptroller of Israel. By-elections per se are rare due to the party list mechanism; changes were managed by inserting next-in-line candidates from party lists as regulated by the Knesset Elections Law.
Political deadlock and coalition strains culminated in the dissolution leading to the 2019 Israeli legislative election, reshaping party alignments among Likud, Blue and White (political alliance), Yesh Atid, Joint List, Shas, and others. Outcomes influenced leadership contests for figures like Benjamin Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, and Yair Lapid, while institutional debates over judicial reform, electoral thresholds, and executive accountability persisted in public discourse and legal arenas including the Supreme Court of Israel and the Attorney General of Israel offices. The legacy of the 20th Knesset informed subsequent legislative sessions, coalition strategies, and debates over Israel's domestic and foreign policies.