New Knesset Members Acclimate Ahead of Swearing-In Ceremony

Newly elected members of the Knesset (Israel's parliament) gathered for an orientation day on Monday, November 9, 2026, ahead of their swearing-in ceremony scheduled for Tuesday. The upcoming Knesset will comprise 33 women and 87 men, with women making up approximately 27% of the total 120 members. Fifty-nine of the elected officials are new to the Knesset, including both first-time members and those returning after a break. The youngest member is Yonatan Shilo, born in 2002, and the oldest is Haim Katz, born in 1947.

Geographically, Tel Aviv and the central region have the largest representation with 49 members (41%), followed by Jerusalem with 18. The northern and southern regions together account for 32 members. In terms of education, the new Knesset will include 11 PhD holders, 55 with master's degrees, and 29 with bachelor's degrees. The majority of members, 98, are between 40 and 69 years old, and ten come from bereaved families.

Following the election results, faction rooms within the Knesset have been reallocated. The Yaser faction will occupy the former space of Yesh Atid, the Together party will take over the room previously used by Otzma Yehudit, and the Democrats will move into the Blue and White party's former room. Ra'am will receive the room of United Torah Judaism, Otzma Yehudit will take the Religious Zionism party's room, and United Torah Judaism will be assigned the room formerly used by Shas. Changes also include the location of rooms, with the Joint List moving to the central corridor and Shas receiving a side room previously used by the Democrats. The Religious Zionism party will occupy a smaller room that housed Hadash-Ta'al.

The orientation day aims to familiarize the 48 new members with the Knesset's operations, parliamentary tools, and overall functioning as they prepare to assume their roles.