Israeli Knesset Records: Longest Speeches, Shortest Terms, and Age Records
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS by baba
New data from the Knesset highlights historical records, including Shimon Peres as the longest-serving and oldest member, and Orna Angel with the shortest term. The longest plenum session lasted over 66 hours, and MK Michael Eitan delivered a 10-hour speech. The 20th Knesset saw the most bills submitted and passed, while the 24th had the most female representatives. The current 25th Knesset is the first to complete a full term in about 40 years.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Shimon Peres is the longest-serving and oldest member of Knesset, with over 47 years and ending at age 83.
- Orna Angel holds the record for the shortest Knesset term, serving only seven days.
- The longest Knesset session lasted 66 hours and 13 minutes in November 2021.
- MK Michael Eitan delivered the longest speech in Knesset history, lasting 10 hours and 7 minutes.
- The 20th Knesset submitted nearly 6,000 private bills and enacted 625 laws.
- The 25th Knesset is the first to complete a full term in approximately 40 years.
New data released by the Knesset reveals historical records and curiosities from Israel's parliament since its establishment. The statistics cover Knesset members' tenures, legislative marathon sessions, female representation, and significant historical milestones.
Shimon Peres holds a dual record as the oldest serving Knesset member at 83 years and 315 days, and for the longest cumulative tenure, exceeding 47 years across 14 terms. David Ben-Gurion and Rafi Eitan also rank among the oldest members. Conversely, Moshe Nissim was the youngest MK elected, beginning his term at 24 years and 234 days, followed by Tofik Toubi and Inbal Gavrieli. Orna Angel served the shortest term, lasting only seven days, with Shabtai Don-Yihya serving nine days.
Regarding the Speaker of the Knesset role, Nahum Nir was the oldest at 75 upon election, while Avraham Burg was the youngest at 45. Kadish Luz served the longest continuous term as Speaker, nearly ten years, whereas Benny Gantz had the shortest term, lasting one month and 21 days in the 23rd Knesset. Dalia Itzik remains the only woman to have served as Speaker.
The plenum has witnessed dramatic moments and all-night sessions. The longest session in history lasted 66 hours and 13 minutes in November 2021 during budget and arrangements law debates. MK Michael Eitan holds the record for the longest speech, speaking for 10 hours and 7 minutes during the 1993 budget discussion. The plenum convened in a closed, fully embargoed session only once in December 1960, following the resignation of Chief of Staff Haim Laskov. Iceland's President Asgeir Asgeirsson was the first foreign leader to address the plenum in 1966.
The 20th Knesset submitted the most private bill proposals (nearly 6,000) and enacted the most laws (625). The 24th Knesset had the highest number of female MKs, while the 7th Knesset had the lowest. The 23rd Knesset had the highest percentage of native-born MKs, contrasting with the first Knesset's lowest representation. Over the years, 14 Chiefs of Staff, 4 Shin Bet heads, and 3 Mossad heads have transitioned to the Knesset. The third Knesset was the longest-serving, exceeding four years, while the 21st and 22nd Knessets were the shortest, each lasting about five months. In the current 25th Knesset, Benjamin Netanyahu is the oldest MK, Yitzhak Wasserlauf is the youngest, and Moshe Gafni is the longest-serving.
Notably, the 25th Knesset is completing a full term for the first time in approximately 40 years.