The 26th Knesset is set to be sworn in on Tuesday during its official inaugural ceremony, as coalition negotiations continue following President Isaac Herzog’s decision to grant Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot the mandate to form the next government.
The 26th Knesset will have 47 first-time MKs, who took part in an orientation day on Monday to prepare for their entry into the parliament. Preparations for the swearing-in ceremony also took place throughout the Knesset building.
During the orientation day, the new MKs took part in a practice run of the voting system in the plenum, taking turns casting votes. A red carpet was laid out ahead of Tuesday’s ceremony, and bouquets of flowers were placed throughout the Knesset halls and in the plenum.
The Knesset building itself also underwent changes, with new faction meeting rooms being prepared for the incoming parties. The new seating arrangement in the plenum was also announced, outlining where all the new members of the Knesset will sit and vote on legislation.
Alex Rif, a member of the Yashar Knesset slate and head of the party’s olim integration initiative, told The Jerusalem Post that she was looking forward to working to help olim (new immigrants) as a member of Knesset.
New MKs plan their agendas
As an olah herself, Rif said she was very excited to be sworn into the Knesset and planned to work to help olim during her term.
“I’m just remembering myself as a five-year-old, a new oleh, embarrassed by my Russian and wanting to be Israeli. And 35 years later, I’m becoming a Knesset member,” she told the Post.
Among the things she said she plans to do in the Knesset are to “help new olim learn Hebrew better and have the option of working in Israel, so they can stay here and build a home here.”
During the inaugural ceremony on Tuesday, all 120 MKs will declare their allegiance to the Knesset. The ceremony will include remarks by Herzog, while Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana will lead the session and speak as well.
After the Knesset Speaker delivers his remarks, the Knesset secretary is expected to call the name of each MK, who will rise in turn and declare their allegiance.
Earlier in the afternoon, a ceremony will also take place in the Knesset plaza, attended by MKs and their guests.
New Knesset to be sworn in amid political deadlock
The new Knesset will be sworn in amid an ongoing political deadlock, as both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc and the bloc seeking to replace him lack the 61-seat majority required to form a government. The election results showed that Netanyahu’s bloc secured 53 seats in the next Knesset, while the opposition bloc won 48.
The political deadlock could ultimately lead to another election, although the parties can still reach an agreement through coalition negotiations. Eisenkot has said that “unconventional steps” would be required to form a government and expressed confidence that doing so would be possible.
By law, Eisenkot has 28 days to form a government, starting Sunday, and the president may grant him an extension of up to 14 additional days if necessary.
The opposition bloc has sought to replace Ohana, a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party, immediately after the swearing-in of the new Knesset. This would allow the opposition bloc to gain control over the Knesset’s legislative agenda.