New Knesset Members: 80% Academics, 30 Lawyers

The 26th Knesset has convened, with a new analysis from the "Chochim Chacham" (Smart Voters) initiative detailing the backgrounds of its 120 members. The data reveals significant gender, geographic, and sectoral disparities. Women constitute 27.5% of the Knesset, with 33 members, but their representation varies sharply by party; "Yashar" has a female majority, while Shas and United Torah Judaism have no women members. Female lawmakers are younger on average (50.9 years) than their male counterparts (54.3 years). Education levels show a stark difference: approximately 97% of women hold academic degrees, compared to 74% of men, with 79% of women holding master's or doctoral degrees versus 47% of men. The average age in the Knesset is 53.3, with the largest age group being 50-59. The youngest member is Yonatan Shalev, 24, and the youngest female member is Yafa Tabajeh, 37. Oztma Yehudit is the youngest faction (average age 43), while Ra'am, Likud, and Yisrael Beiteinu are the oldest (average age 57.1-57.3).

Regarding professional experience, 74 members have prior parliamentary experience, while 46 are new. Thirty-nine members have served as ministers, with Likud having the most (15). Twenty-four members have over a decade of combined Knesset or government experience, including only two women: Gila Gamliel (21 years) and Miri Regev (17 years). Overall, 80% of Knesset members (96 individuals) hold academic degrees, including 29 with bachelor's, 56 with master's, 9 with doctorates, and 2 medical doctors. Law is the most common profession, with 30 licensed lawyers. Conversely, 19 members lack academic degrees, including 10 with secondary education, 8 with religious studies, and one with rabbinical ordination.

Military service is common, with 88 members having served, including 38 combatants (one woman) and 13 senior security officials. Among them are four former generals (Kamil Abu Rokon, Yair Golan, Noam Tibon, Elazar Stern) and one former IDF chief of staff (Gadi Eisenkot), along with former senior security figures like ex-Shin Bet head Yoram Cohen and retired commissioner Yoav Seglovitz.

The new Knesset also includes 8 former mayors and council heads (including Nir Barkat, Tal Ohana, Eitan Ginzburg, and Yaakov Asher) and 7 deputy mayors. Thirty-five members have backgrounds in education, and 25 have experience in social and business entrepreneurship, including Naftali Bennett, Nir Barkat, Meirav Cohen, Yitzhak Kroizer, and Keren Turner.

Geographically, residents of Judea and Samaria are overrepresented (13.3% of Knesset members vs. 5.1% of the population), as is Tel Aviv (20.8% vs. 15.4%). Haifa is significantly underrepresented (4.2% vs. 11.6%). Religiously, religious individuals are overrepresented (26.7% of Jewish members vs. 12.4% of the adult population), while the traditional sector is underrepresented (12.9% vs. 35.8%). Arab and Druze representation stands at 15.8% of the Knesset, compared to 21.7% of the population.