New Knesset to Feature 48 New Lawmakers, Only Three Russian Speakers
Translated & summarized from NEWSru Israel by baba
Preliminary results for Israel's 26th Knesset show Likud as the largest party with 27 seats, bringing in six new members. The Yashar party will also see significant new representation, including former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen and Alex Rif, who is expected to be the only new Russian-speaking MK. The Be'ahad party and Demokratim party are also bringing in new lawmakers. Yisrael Beiteinu will have Avigdor Lieberman and Yulia Malinovskaya, with Evgeny Sova not expected to pass the threshold.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Likud is projected to be the largest party in the 26th Knesset with 27 seats.
- The 26th Knesset will include 48 new lawmakers.
- Only three Russian-speaking MKs are expected in the 26th Knesset.
- Alex Rif is set to be the sole new Russian-speaking MK.
- Former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen is among the new Yashar party MKs.
- Yisrael Beiteinu's Avigdor Lieberman and Yulia Malinovskaya are expected to be MKs.
Preliminary results from the 26th Knesset elections indicate the Likud party, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, will be the largest faction with 27 seats. The party is bringing six new members to the Knesset, including Talik Gvili, mother of a fallen police officer, commentator Yaakov Bardugo, legal advocate David Peter, war hero Elisha Madan, former MK Eli Goldschmidt, and journalist Erez Tadmor. Likud will not have any new or returning Russian-speaking members.
The Yashar party, headed by Gadi Eisenkot, is set to include at least 15 new lawmakers among its 21 representatives. Notable new additions include former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen, youth movement founder Adi Altshuler, former Labor Ministry Director General Tair Ifargan, and former Finance Ministry budget chief Shaul Meridor. Shira Shapira, mother of October 7 hero Aner Shapira, will also join. Alex Rif, a candidate on the 15th spot, is poised to be the sole new Russian-speaking MK and the third and final Russian-speaking MK in the incoming Knesset. Other new Yashar members include former Kulanu MK Roi Folkman, Ramat Gan city council member Israel Zari, and activist Yaffa Tabja.
Naftali Bennett's Be'ahad party will introduce six new members, such as former Director Generals Noam Tibon (Finance and Transportation), Liran Avishar Ben-Horin (Communications), and Talia Hirsch-Nagari (Ra'anana Municipality). Vladimir Beliak, who was in the 16th position on a joint list with Yesh Atid, did not secure a seat as Be'ahad is projected to win only 12 mandates.
The Demokratim party's new MKs include Omri Ronen, a leader of the "Brothers for the Burden" movement, and Yair Fink, former Director General of the "Darkenu" movement, both prominent in anti-government protests. Yisrael Beiteinu will see new members like retired Colonel Talia Lancre, former Deputy National Security Council head, former Beit She'an mayor Rafi Shitrit, and Sharon Sharabi, brother of fallen soldier Yossi Sharabi and released hostage Eli Sharabi. The party's leader, Avigdor Lieberman, and current MK Yulia Malinovskaya are expected to be the only other Russian-speaking MKs from Yisrael Beiteinu. Evgeny Sova, who was eighth on the party's list, is not expected to enter the Knesset based on preliminary results.
Mentioned
