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.

Feiglin: There was 'terrible betrayal dismantling IDF' before Oct. 7 massacre, forgives Smotrich

"I truly do not know if we will ever be able to know, because everything is hidden and concealed," Feiglin said when discussing whether there was a "betrayal from within" on Oct. 7.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026|By103FM

Moshe Feiglin attends a hearing at the Israeli Supreme Court in Jerusalem on petitions challenging the UNRWA laws passed by the Knesset, August 3, 2026

B'Yachad party chairman Naftali Bennett sits down with The Jerusalem Post at his party's headquarters, central Israel, September 4, 2026

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The nine-member panel at the High Court of Justice looks on as the hearing opens in Jerusalem.

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SEPTEMBER 4, 2026|BySARAH BEN-NUN

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a ceremony commemorating Israel’s Remembrance Day for fallen soldiers, or Yom HaZikaron, at the Military Cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem April 21, 2026.

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Israel’s first post-October 7 election brings shifting alliances, new political faces and an uncertain path to power

AUGUST 31, 2026ByKESHET NEEV, SHIR PERETS

Results of a Maariv poll measuring how many seats each party would receive in the October 2026 Knesset elections, results shared on August 28, 2026.

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Gadi Eisenkot, head of Yashar, is the main challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the upcoming October election.

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Bennett, Eisenkot draw the battle lines in race to lead Israel’s next coalition - analysis

Bennett is offering soft-right voters an alternative to Netanyahu, while Eisenkot is seeking to hold the political center while persuading right-wing voters that he is not dependent on the Left.

AUGUST 30, 2026ByANNA BARSKY

Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot at a march for conscripting haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jews into the IDF, in Jerusalem, January 15, 2026; illustrative.

Smotrich enters joint ticket talks with former Likud MK Feiglin as Likud slams Ben-Gvir

Simultaneously, tensions grew between National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and the Likud party after he announced that Otzma Yehudit would not run together with the Religious Zionist Party.

AUGUST 28, 2026ByCORINNE BAUM, ANNA BARSKY

(L-R): National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich seen in the Knesset plenum, December 29, 2022

As Winter fuels Netanyahu’s discontent, Israel's Right faces a new dilemma

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AUGUST 28, 2026ByHERB KEINON

OFER WINTER attends the launch of the People of Israel party in Jerusalem on Tuesday. He can introduce individuals without political experience into his party because, after October 7, such candidates can say: ‘We did not create this mess. Give us a chance to clean it up.’

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Winter is seeking to remove from the agenda the campaign portraying him as a risk to the right, as someone who could help replace Netanyahu or siphon votes away from the bloc.

AUGUST 28, 2026ByANNA BARSKY

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

Ofer Winter, unification of Arab parties, shake up Knesset seats, push RZP below threshold - poll

The data shows that Winter’s entry has created greater complexity within the coalition bloc. Without him, the bloc led by Benjamin Netanyahu receives 43 seats, while with him it rises to 48 seats.

AUGUST 28, 2026ByMOSHE COHEN

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

Gilad Erdan confirms talks with Benny Gantz on possible election alliance

Gantz also criticized calls to form another narrow coalition without the traditional right, arguing that both a narrow “change” government and a fully right-wing government had failed.

AUGUST 28, 2026ByYEHUDA SHLEZINGER, 103FM