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.

Israel Election 2026: How many votes will parties need to cross electoral threshold? - explainer

According to the updated estimates from the Taub Center, a political party will need approximately 166,000 votes to enter the Knesset if voter turnout matches that of the 2022 election.

OCTOBER 22, 2026|ByALEX WINSTON

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talks with The Jerusalem Post, October 21, 2026.

'Not Ben-Gvir': Next defense minister should come from Likud, Netanyahu tells ‘Post’

"It's gonna be our government. We decide what the policy is,” Netanyahu told The Jerusalem Post. He did not name a candidate for defense minister.

OCTOBER 21, 2026|ByZVIKA KLEIN, AMICHAI STEIN

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends a press conference at the Finance Ministry in Jerusalem, July 1, 2026.

Smotrich presses Ofer Winter to drop Knesset run in exchange for Defense Ministry appointment

The finance minister additionally stated that he would offer Winter a directorate for haredi (ultra-Orthodox) enlistment and integration into the workforce.

OCTOBER 21, 2026|ByKESHET NEEV

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presents his National Security Doctrine on October 18, 2026 ahead of October 27 elections.

The buck stops nowhere - opinion

No government, and no prime minister, can abandon its responsibility to its citizens the way this government and coalition have.

OCTOBER 21, 2026|ByDANIEL GOLDMAN

Deadlock deepens as post-deadline polls leave both blocs short of 61 Knesset seats - analysis

The deadlock has forced parties to recalibrate. If the country is headed towards yet another deadlock, the question becomes: how can it be broken?

SEPTEMBER 15, 2026ByHERB KEINON

A giant election campaign poster for the Amcha Yisrael party is displayed on a building at the entrance to Jerusalem ahead of the upcoming general elections, September 14, 2026.

Golan already preparing demands for coalition talks if change bloc government formed

Enshrining issues of democracy and the rule of law, along with ministries already identified, Defense, Justice, Education, National Security, and Communications, are among Golan's demands.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2026ByYEHUDA SHLEZINGER

Yair Golan leads The Democrats, it is polling at around 10 seats.

Netanyahu faces new election risk as 59 seats could open path to rival government - opinion

According to the assessment, Netanyahu understands that in the current election, even a result of 59 seats for the entire bloc could place him in genuine political danger.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2026ByMATTI TUCHFELD

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads Likud into the October 27 election as the ruling party seeks to retain power amid slipping polls and questions over Netanyahu’s future.

Rosh Hashanah 2026: What does ‘shana tova’ mean in an Israel divided by politics? - opinion

Israelis may share a wish for a shana tova, but their visions for the country’s future could not be more different.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2026BySUSAN HATTIS ROLEF

A Jewish worshipper blows a Shofar as he takes part in Slichot at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City, 2017

Arab Hadash-Ta’al, Ra’am parties sign agreement to reduce risk of lost votes

The move follows Ra’am, Hadash-Ta’al, and Balad running separately in the previous election and not signing an agreement on surplus votes

SEPTEMBER 13, 2026ByYOAV ETIEL

Yousef Jabareen attends Hadash–Ta'al faction meeting, at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on July 6, 2026.

As his presidency enters its final stretch, Isaac Herzog lays out his three priorities for Israel

PRESIDENTIAL AFFAIRS: From the Abraham Accords to Israeli social divides, Herzog says diplomacy and unity will define the remainder of his presidency.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2026ByGREER FAY CASHMAN

PRESIDENT ISAAC HERZOG has made diplomacy, strengthening Jewish peoplehood, and healing divisions within Israeli society his three central priorities for the remaining two years of his term. Here, the president attends the Outstanding Officers Ceremony of the Israel Police on Sunday.

Where are all the women? Why Israel still struggles to put women at the top of politics

As Israel heads to elections, women remain present in politics but largely absent from its highest ranks

SEPTEMBER 11, 2026ByCHANI KAPLAN

Women make up roughly a quarter of Israel’s Knesset, but their representation thins considerably at the highest levels of political power.

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Israeli voters have strikingly little say - a 'semi-open ballot' reform can help - opinion

Israel’s electoral system gives voters remarkably little say. A modest reform could bring them closer to the politicians they elect

SEPTEMBER 11, 2026ByASSAF SHAPIRA

Israeli citizens have fewer opportunities to vote, in fewer democratic arenas, than citizens of any other developed democracy.

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Coalition strengthens as People of Israel crosses threshold, despite Likud dropping one seat - poll

The poll also found that after the previous survey showed the Reservists and Economic party crossing the threshold while Ofer Winter’s party did not, the two have now switched roles.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2026ByMOSHE COHEN

The launch of the new Amcha Yisrael party, led by Ofer Winter, ahead of the upcoming Israeli general elections, in Jerusalem, August 25, 2026.

Editor’s Notes: The Rosh Hashanah accounting of leadership - comment

In an age of misinformation and political certainty, the hardest thing to find is the truth. This Rosh Hashanah, we should judge leaders by what they do, not what they say.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2026ByZVIKA KLEIN