New Knesset Sworn In With Record Number of Women, Diverse Backgrounds
Translated & summarized from Jüdische Allgemeine by baba
Israel's 26th Knesset was sworn in with 120 members, including the youngest at 24 and the oldest at 78. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his record 15th term. The new parliament features a record 33 women, but ultra-Orthodox parties remain without female representation. Many members have personal ties to recent national tragedies, and the body includes former security officials and IDF veterans.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel's 26th Knesset, with 120 members, was sworn in, featuring a wide age range from 24 to 78.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commenced his record 15th term in the new Knesset.
- The 26th Knesset includes a record 33 women, representing 27.5% of its members.
- Ten Knesset members have lost family members in past conflicts or the recent October 7th attacks.
- The new parliament comprises former senior security officials, IDF veterans, and diverse religious and secular backgrounds.
Israel's 26th Knesset was sworn in on Tuesday, two weeks after the October 27th election, with all 120 members taking their oath of office. The new parliament features a wide range of ages, professions, and personal experiences, reflecting a diverse cross-section of Israeli society. The youngest member is 24-year-old Yonatan Shalev, who founded an organization advocating for equal military service and served in a special forces unit. The oldest is 78-year-old Haim Katz, a veteran Likud politician and former Labor Minister.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu begins his 15th term in the Knesset, setting a new record and surpassing Shimon Peres. President Isaac Herzog opened the session, urging the new lawmakers to remember their mandate to improve Israeli society, especially during challenging times. He acknowledged the presence of members who have suffered personal losses, particularly in light of the events since October 7th.
The 26th Knesset includes a record 33 women, making up 27.5% of the members, the highest proportion since the state's founding. Among them are former local government officials, founders of youth and remembrance initiatives, and former high-ranking civil servants. However, ultra-Orthodox parties continue to have no female representation.
A significant number of members, ten in total, have lost family members in past conflicts or the recent October 7th attacks. This includes individuals whose siblings, spouses, sons, or nephews were killed or abducted. The Knesset also includes three openly LGBTQ+ members. The composition also features 48 secular members, 27 religious, 17 Arab, 13 ultra-Orthodox, and 13 traditional members, with two Druze representatives. A large majority, 88 members, have served in the IDF.
The new parliament also boasts a notable contingent of former senior security officials, including the former head of Shin Bet, a former deputy director of Mossad, a former IDF Chief of Staff, and several former generals. With 46 new members and a broad spectrum of backgrounds, the 26th Knesset is characterized by its diversity and the reflection of recent national traumas among its ranks.
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