Knesset

The Knesset is the legislative branch of the Israeli government. Its name, whose Hebrew translation means literally 'the gathering' or 'the assembly, is a derivative of the ancient Great Assembly,' the gathering of 120 sages that governed the Jewish people between the end of the Biblical prophets until 200 B.C. The Knesset is the national legislature of the State of Israel and passes all of the country's laws, in addition to electing the president, approving the cabinet and supervising governmental work. The Knesset functions as the unicameral national legislature in Israel in a parliamentary manner, with elections forming members of Knesset (MKs) held at least every fourth year. Knesset history The Knesset first convened on February 14th, 1949, taking over for transitional governments that had existed since Israel declared independence on May 14th, 1948, and met in the Jewish Agency building in Jerusalem. Between March and December of that year the legislature was moved to Tel Aviv, the only period the Knesset was not seated in Jerusalem. Following a four-month return to the Jewish Agency building, the Knesset moved to King George Street in the city center, where it remained until the current complex was opened in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Givat Ram, August 31st, 1966. The Knesset complex was funded by British Liberal politician James de Rothschild and has underwent two major additions, completed in 1992 and 2007. Knesset functions The Knesset sets the laws of the State of Israel and oversees governmental works via a series of 12 permanent committees, which include ones focused on foreign affairs and defense, education and culture, economics and the status of women, among others. Special committees can also be formed when necessity arises, such as the central elections committee and the public petitions committee, among others. The Knesset, as a parliamentary system, is presided over by the Speaker of Knesset and passes laws based off a simple majority of the 120-member voting bloc. Israel's prime minister, as head of the ruling party, is determined by the party best able to form a coalition comprised of at the minimum a simple majority. Knesset seats are allocated based on proportional representation using the D'Hondt method and parties are admitted to Knesset when passing an election threshold of 3.25 percent. Members of Knesset have the ability to raise a vote of no confidence in the government or in government ministers, a move that was only once successful in Knesset's history. Likewise, in order for a prime minister to be named, the candidate must receive a vote of confidence on the Knesset floor before taking office. Knesset assemblies There have been 20 assemblies of Knesset in Israel's history, each referred to by its election number. The First Knesset, under the auspices of prime minister David Ben-Gurion, was in session from 1949 until 1951. Elections occurred by and large every fourth year, unless elections were called early. However, no Knesset term lasted fewer than three years, except for the 19th Knesset, which lasted from 2013 until 2015.

Knesset

How the new Knesset can begin changing Israel before a coalition forms - opinion

Netanyahu's bloc leads with 54 seats to opposition's 49 after 4.4 million votes counted

After years of war, division, Israelis vote in record numbers to shape their future - editorial

Bennett's B'Yachad projected to win 12 seats in next Knesset, election polling data predicts

Arab parties Ra'am, Joint List rise to 17 seats amid high turnout, election polling data shows

Yair Golan's Democrats projected to win eight Knesset seats in 2026

Ben-Gvir, RZP to win combined 13 seats after 3.5 million votes counted, CEC says

Shas, UTJ projected to win 14 seats in next Knesset, CEC says after 3.5 million votes counted

Over 4 million votes counted: Netanyahu projected to win 54 seats, opposition 49, Arab parties 17

People of Israel, Reservists-Economic Party, Haredi Public all projected to fall short of threshold

Israel’s election system puts coalition deals ahead of voter choice - opinion

Likud officials sound alarm over voter apathy as Israel sees record-high election turnout

Forget the propaganda: Small parties don’t burn votes - opinion

'Don't feel like waiting': Voters complain of long lines at polling stations amid historic turnout