New Knesset Seating Chart Revealed Ahead of Swearing-In

The 26th Knesset is set to convene for its swearing-in ceremony tomorrow, with all 120 members of Knesset (MKs) to take the oath of allegiance individually. Ahead of the official government formation, the seating arrangement for the plenum has been released, generating excitement among MKs about their temporary positions, which are expected to change once the new government is sworn in.

The government table is situated in the center of the hall, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at its head, flanked by ministers. Notably, Ministers Yisrael Katz and Yariv Levin will sit beside Netanyahu. Levin will also be seated next to Minister Smotrich, while Minister Ben Gvir will sit next to Miri Regev, who is also adjacent to David Amsalem.

On the right side of the plenum, parties such as Yashar, Yachad, and Yisrael Beiteinu will be seated. In the front row, senior figures from the "Change Bloc" including Liberman, Lapid, and Bennett will sit together. Izankot will be at the other end of the row next to his party's second-in-command, Yoram Cohen. The third row will host several former senior officers: Maj. Gen. (res.) Noam Tibon, Col. (res.) Talia Lankri, Maj. Gen. (res.) Elazar Stern, and retired Maj. Gen. Kamil Abu Rokon.

Yonatan Shilo, expected to be the youngest MK and the first born in the 21st century, will be seated between his list mates Meirav Cohen and Bruria Na'im Arman, who previously served as chief of staff to former Transport Minister Efraim Sneh before Shilo was born. The central bloc will comprise Arab parties, alongside United Torah Judaism and the Democrats. Yair Golan will sit in the front row next to Ahmed Tibi, while Yitzhak Pindrus will be in the second row next to Yoav Segalovitz from Ra'am. Yaya Fink will be seated next to Maha Karkabi Sabbah from the Balad party.

Seating in the plenum is determined by factional affiliation, according to an arrangement set by the Knesset's Arrangements Committee at the start of each term. The largest coalition faction will occupy the left side of the hall, with the second largest on the right. Each MK has a designated seat marked with their name. In front of each MK is a touch-screen computer display for voting, showing the issue and options to vote 'for,' 'against,' or 'abstain.' Behind the presidium's podium hangs a work of art titled "Ask for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper, those who love you," symbolizing the connection between the spiritual and physical Jerusalem. To the left of this artwork is a dark zinc plate portrait of the state's founder, Theodor Herzl.