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.

Ra’am, Joint List fight bids to bar them from Knesset election

Ra’am, the Joint List, Balad and two candidates asked the Central Elections Committee to reject six petitions seeking to bar them from the 2026 Knesset election.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2026|BySARAH BEN-NUN

Ra’am party chairman Mansour Abbas, together with party member Yoav Segalovich, arrives to submit the party list to the Central Elections Committee, Jerusalem, September 7, 2026; illustrative.

Moti Leitner, chairman of the Haredi Public party, party members and supporters attend the launch of the party’s election campaign ahead of the upcoming Israeli general elections in Beit Shemesh, August 23, 2026.

The Haredi Public: A politically responsible voice from Israel's ultra-Orthodox public - opinion

Fortunately, and finally, substantial numbers of haredi Israelis are moving away from this hostile approach. They think for themselves and are seeking alternative political leadership.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2026|ByDAVID M. WEINBERG

Campaign materials of candidates who ran in yesterday’s Likud primary elections are seen in Jerusalem, August 18, 2026

From Likud to Yisrael Beytenu: The case for a change on the Right - opinion

A former Likud MK details why he believes Yisrael Beytenu is the party that still stands for his core right-wing values.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2026|ByDAN ILLOUZ

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman

Majority believe Israel should help Saudis against Houthis as Likud continues downward trend - poll

Thirty-eight percent said such assistance should be conditioned on a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, while 16% supported assisting the kingdom even without diplomatic return.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2026|ByMOSHE COHEN

Ofer Winter condition for joining government: Universal draft law passed before coalition formed

“We will not join a government that does not pass, before it is formed, a law that puts an end to draft evasion and requires everyone to report for service and contribute,” Winter said.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2026ByKESHET NEEV

Amcha Yisrael party chairman Ofer Winter speaks during a press conference in Tel Aviv, September 2, 2026.

Ofer Winter slams rabbi who said it was against Jewish law to vote for party with Arab-Israeli

The Tzohar Rabbinical Organization rejected Aviner’s interpretation, saying leading halachic authorities had already ruled that Jews may vote for non-Jewish candidates for the Knesset.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2026BySHIR PERETS

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

Smotrich, Feiglin sign on joint run ahead of October elections, call for broad right wing alliance

The alliance comes ahead of the deadline for submitting party lists next week and as a group of small right-wing parties continues to fail to pass the electoral threshold in recent polling.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2026ByKESHET NEEV, MIRIAM SELA-EITAM

Finance Minister and Religious Zionist Party head Bezalel Smotrich and right-wing politician Moshe Feiglin sign agreement for joint run in October elections, September 1, 2026.

Yesh Atid MKs Dvora Biton, Tatiana Mazarsky announce they will not join B’Yachad Knesset slate

Biton and Mazarsky’s decisions to seek re-election came after Yesh Atid MKs Meir Cohen and Mickey Levy confirmed on Monday that they were also not going to run with the party.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2026ByGOLDIE KATZ

MK Debbie Biton poses for a picture a day before the opening session of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem on November 14, 2022.

Yesh Atid MK Levy confirms he will not be on Knesset list, says he is not leaving party

Levy also mentioned that he had met with party leader Yair Lapid, and had agreed to serve as the head of the party's court.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2026ByTZVI JASPER

Member of Knesset Mickey Levy attends a court hearing at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on petitions seeking to overturn the election of attorney Michael Rabello as State Comptroller, June 18, 2026.

Israel must repair its ties with world Jewry by repairing itself - opinion

Anyone who cares about the future of relations between Israel and world Jewry must know that repairing those ties starts in large part with real repair at home here in Israel.

AUGUST 31, 2026ByMICHAL SLAWNY CABABIA

Michal Slawny Cababia is seen speaking at an event for young American Jewish community leaders and activists.

Israel Election 2026: The parties, blocs and battles that will shape Israel's future - explainer

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.

Gadi Eisenkot: How a military record and personal grief made Netanyahu's biggest rival

Gadi Eisenkot’s military record, personal loss, and political rise have made him the strongest new challenger to Israel’s longest-serving prime minister

AUGUST 31, 2026BySHIR PERETS

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