New Knesset Sworn In, Setting Records for Female Representation and Bereaved Members
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS by baba
The 26th Knesset was sworn in today, featuring 46 new members and a record 33 women, comprising 28% of the parliament. Nine members have lost family in recent conflicts, including the October 7th attacks and the ongoing war. The new Knesset also includes 88 members with IDF service backgrounds. The youngest MK is 24, the oldest is 78, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has served for 38 years.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- The 26th Knesset was sworn in today, with a record 33 women serving.
- Nine members of the new Knesset have lost close family in recent conflicts.
- 46 new members joined the 26th Knesset, doubling the previous intake.
- 88 members of the new Knesset have served in the IDF.
- The youngest MK is 24, and the oldest is 78.
The 26th Knesset was officially sworn in today, marking the beginning of a new legislative term. The new parliament features a significant number of new members, with 46 completely new MKs, double the number from the previous Knesset. Among the 120 members, 51.7% are continuing from the previous term, and 12 are returning after a break.
The Knesset has set an all-time record for female representation, with 33 women, or 28% of the total members, serving this term. This is the highest number and percentage of female lawmakers since the establishment of the state. Notably, 21 of these women belong to parties with equal or near-equal gender representation, including Yash (11 women out of 21 MKs), United Torah Judaism (6 women out of 12), and Hadash-Ta'al (4 women out of 8).
This Knesset, the first to convene since the October 7th attacks and the subsequent war, includes nine members who have lost close family members. These include MK Shira Shapira, whose son was killed on October 7th; MK Michal Hirsch Negri, whose son fell in battle; MK Rafi Ben Shitrit, whose son was killed on October 7th; MK Sharon Sharabi, whose brother was kidnapped and murdered by Hamas; MK Talik Guyali, whose son fell and whose body was abducted to Gaza; MK Omri Ronen, who lost his grandmother in the October 7th massacre; MK Gadi Eisenkot, who lost his son and two nephews in the war; MK Moshe Feiglin, who lost his grandson in Gaza; and MK Bezalel Smotrich, who lost a cousin in the fighting.
Regarding military service, 73% of the new MKs, totaling 88 individuals, served in the IDF. Of these, 41 were career soldiers. Conversely, 32 members, or 27%, did not serve in the military.
The youngest member of the Knesset is Yonatan Shilo, 24, while the oldest is Haim Katz, 78. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the longest-serving MK in terms of cumulative years, has served for 38 years. The article concludes by noting that after years of war and societal division, the focus now shifts to how these newly elected officials will utilize their mandate.
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