Knesset

Gal-On: Soldiers to Ports, Port Workers to Yeshiva

MK: Why not send yeshiva students to guard duty, soldiers to ports, and port guards to yeshiva?

'Governance Bill' Passes Preliminary Knesset Vote

A bill limiting the number of ministers to 19 passes preliminary Knesset vote, after being denounced by the opposition.

Litzman: Law Needed to Prevent 'Ostracizing' Hareidim

The current government intentionally kept hareidim out just because of their 'beards and sidelocks,' said MK Ya'akov Litzman.

PM Tells MKs: Stop Voicing Concern Over Syria Chemical Weapons

PM Netanyahu tells MKs to refrain from voicing concern over mounting evidence of chemical weapons use in Syria.

Lapid: Israel 'Sick of Taking Orders' from Hareidi MKs

Lapid tells hareidi Jews he does not hate them, ‘the state is just sick of taking your orders,’ in stormy Knesset session.

Summer Time to Begin; Will Extend Beyond Yom Kippur

Israel moves to summer ( daylight savings) time on Friday morning. Clocks will be turned forward at 2:00 AM Friday morning by one hour

Rivlin: Obama’s Knesset Snub ‘Worrying’

Former Knesset speaker says President Obama’s speech venue choice sends message of mistrust.

2013 Budget - by September

The new Knesset moves to give the government three more months to create the 2013 budget.

ZOA 'Compelled to Speak Up' About Disturbing Obama Itinerary

ZOA “compelled to speak up about two unsettling aspects of President Obama’s upcoming visit to Israel.”

Knesset Votes Government in, With 68 For, 48 Against

After nearly six weeks of negotiations and many dramatic moments, Israel has a new government

PM: There is No Jewish Future Without Israel

Binyamin Netanyahu said that his objective as Prime Minister is to “ensure the future of the Jewish people"

Solodkin Praised for ‘Good Works, Social Justice’

Praises for the work accomplished by former MK Marina Solodkin, who died while attending a conference in Latvia on Saturday, are pouring in.

Coalition Deal Seen as Great Achievement for Religious Zionism

The coalition agreement that will send Israel's 33rd government on its way is to be signed Wednesday night, sources said

Coalition Agreement: Up Knesset Threshold to 4%

Likud, Yesh Atid and Bayit Yehudi argue final coalition issue, agree to raise Knesset threshold.

Proposal: Women to Help Choose Chief Rabbis

MK proposes that at least 25% of those choosing new chief rabbis be women, raises bar for candidates.

MKs Unite in Urgent Pollard Appeals

In light of Obama's upcoming visit to Israel, MKs unite in calling for Jewish people to heed lessons of history, secure Pollard's release.

'Politically Incorrect' PM Won't Attend Women's Issues Plenum

In perhaps a “politically incorrect” move, Prime Minister Netanyahu said he would not attend International Women's Day Knesset session.

MK: Create an Alternative to Tel Aviv

MK Wortzman tackles housing crisis, child poverty in his first speech in Knesset.

Orbach: Naftali Bennett is Our Prince Charming

MK Orbach compares Naftali Bennett to a fairy-tale prince who woke ‘sleeping beauty.’

Bennett’s First Speech: ‘Fearless Leadership’

Naftali Bennett takes on tycoons, unions and the Rabbinate in his first Knesset speech, and calls for “fearless leadership.”

Lapid: Teach Hareidi Kids English, Secular Kids Talmud

In his first Knesset speech as a member of the plenum, Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid touched on a variety of topics

Basic Laws in the Jewish State

MK Hotovely: Knesset is Nice, But Engagement is Better

For MK Tzippy Hotovely, being sworn in for her second term as Knesset member was nice, but what's really exciting is her upcoming marriage.

Peres to New MKs: A Storm Rages Around Us

Peres addresses new MKs, speaks of challenges. ‘Arab world is in turmoil, Iran is a threat.’

Photos: New MKs Undergo Training Seminar

Israel’s 48 new MK-elects underwent a “crash course” to learn the Knesset etiquette and regulations.

Expert: Next Knesset Likely to be 'Disunited and Dysfunctional'

The next Knesset is likely to be disunited and dysfunctional, says an expert on politics and democracy

Endorsing Realism

Rivlin: Lack of Trust has Become New Norm in Israeli Politics

Rivlin urges action as new report cites growing crisis of confidence between the public and elected officials.

New Regulations Put Handicapped Access Front and Center

A Knesset Committee approved a range of regulations easing access for the handicapped in offices, stores, and synagogues

Knesset to Hold Emergency Session in Attempt to Save Channel 10

The Knesset will hold an emergency session in a last attempt to prevent the closure of Channel 10, the government announced on Sunday.

'The Feiglin Effect'

Likud MK List May Dent Jewish Home Chances in January Elections

Feiglin’s victory in the Likud primaries for MK candidates could put holes in hopes for Jewish Home-National Union in the elections.

A Gift for Nationalists

Barak Quits Politics

Defense Minister Ehud Barak is quitting politics. In a dramatic announcement, he claimed successes as Defense Minister.

Anglo Solidarity Crosses Party Lines

Likud candidiate: "Jeremy Gimpel represents English-speaking community in Israel and Zionism of the community in political sphere.”

Less Trust than Ever Among Israelis in MKs, Ministers

Whatever little trust Israelis had in the Knesset and the politicians that populate it is quickly dissipating.

Rabbi Eliyahu Wants Ketzaleh To Head Party List

Rabbi Eliyahu urged MK “Ketzaleh” not to give up his number one place on the joint nationalists’ parties list. “You are number one.”

MK Steps Down, ‘No Way to Influence in Knesset’

Major player in Kadima steps down, complains that Knesset isn’t the place to go to have an influence.

Moshe Kahlon: 'Don't be So Sure Likud is Going to Win'

MK Kahlon thinks Likud may be over confident, reportedly saying recent polls projecting 27-29 Knesset seats for Likud are not realistic.

Election Season Opens in the Likud Party

Likud is leading in the polls, yet preparing for an intense election period. "It is not a given that we are going to win the election."

Knesset Dissolves, Elections in January

Knesset approves the bill to dissolve itself by a majority of 100 to 0. Elections will be held on January 22.

MKs Respond to Netanyahu's Call for Early Elections

The decision to hold early elections has been met with a range of opinions from Knesset members

Poll Gives National Camp New Year’s Strength

The latest poll shows the national camp with the continuing slid majority it has enjoyed the past three years. Kadima needs a prayer.

Israel’s Knesset Scorecard: Who’s on First

Mofaz joined coalition, quit and now faces mutiny. Media hate Bibi, love Shelley.You can’t tell apart the politicians without a scorecard.

Christians Flood Knesset with ‘New Judaism’

Knesset Members are furious after finding in their mail boxes what many called missionary propaganda promoting the New Testament.

Bill Raising Marriage Age Passes First Vote

A bill to raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 has passed a first vote. Proponents: Bill will defend minors.

Absent MKs Told to Explain Themselves

Five MKs, ministers taken to task for absences from Knesset. Foreign Minister Lieberman fined.

Ben Eliezer: ‘No one may call another human being a cancer!”

MK Ben Eliezer charges government responsible for illegal immigration crisis; Minister Livnat: you sat in this government for 2 years!

Lieberman Dismisses Knesset Rebuke

FM Avigdor Lieberman says criticism from the Ethics Committee for calling to boycott a committee headed by Ahmed Tibi doesn't faze him

Netanyahu: 'Time is Short and the Task is Great'

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu urged the committee tasked with replacing the Tal Law to work quickly; asked Hareidi parties to join

Nationalists’ Knesset Strength Soars in New Poll

The National Union and Jewish Home parties would win 12 Knesset seats if elections were held today, according to a new independent poll.

National Union Wins State Control Committee Chair

Nationalist MK Uri Ariel has been tapped to head the Knesset State Control Committee; Labor and left wing opposition parties outraged

Gov't Kills Holocaust Denier Law

The government stopped a bill by MK Michael Ben Ari forbidding diplomatic contacts with 'Holocaust deniers,' which was left undefined.

It’s Official: Elections September 4

The government officially submitted to the Knesset Monday a bill for elections on September 4, immediately after the summer vacation.

Knesset Aides Stage 'Worker's Meal' Protest

Workers in the Knesset are faces with a 30% increase in the price of meals, but no increase in already low pay.

Elections Will Extend Tal Law into December

Early elections will mean the Tal Law will stand until 90 days into the next Knesset.

Coalition Chairman Files Bill to Dissolve Knesset

Zeev Elkin of the Likud pulled the trigger on early elections and filed a motion to dissolve the Knesset. Votes expected soon.

Rivlin: This Will Be the Current Knesset's Last Session

Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin at the opening of the Knesset’s summer session: Everyone agrees that we need elections.

Knesset Begins Spring Term – as Iran War, Elections Loom

Three-month term will be action-packed, as controversy over hareidi military service heats up.

Early Elections May Help Netanyahu Get Rid of Barak

If Netanyahu calls elections, Ehud Barak, a thorn in the coalition’s official backing of Judea and Samaria, could be out in the cold.

Rivlin: We May Never Know All the Names

Knesset members on Thursday read out the names of victims of the Holocaust in a special ceremony

Call to Declare a 'Special Situation' in Israel's South

The powerful Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense committee is calling for a 'special situation' in Israel's south as rockets rain down.