Jerusalem : On Sunday, the Knesset held an orientation day for 46 new lawmakers, who arrived at the chamber where they will soon spend much of their time. Some posed for photographs to commemorate the occasion, while all received briefings on parliamentary procedures, including something as basic as how to cast a vote.
Ten of the 120 lawmakers come from bereaved families. Benjamin Netanyahu, Ram Ben Barak and Elisaf Peretz lost brothers in past battles, while Limor Son Har-Melech lost her husband in a terrorist attack. Six others represent families bereaved since October 7: Rafi Ben Shitrit, whose son Elroy was killed in the war; Gadi Eisenkot, whose son Gal was killed in battle; Michal Nagari, whose son Roi was killed in battle; Shira Shapira, whose son Aner was killed fighting terrorists at a roadside shelter; Sharon Sharabi, whose brother Yossi was abducted and murdered in Gaza; and Talik Gvili, whose son Rani was abducted and murdered in Gaza. Another lawmaker whose life was transformed by the October 7 war is Elisha Madan, who was critically wounded in Gaza and lost both legs.
Of the 120 lawmakers, 48, or 40%, are secular, 27 are religious, 17 are Arab, 13 are ultra-Orthodox, 13 identify as traditional and two are Druze. Three members are openly LGBTQ: Amir Ohana, Eitan Ginzburg and Israel Zari. The Knesset also includes one representative of the Ethiopian Israeli community and three immigrants from the former Soviet Union.Eighty-eight lawmakers served in the IDF, five performed national service and seven did not serve for religious reasons, including six from ultra-Orthodox parties. Another 17 are representatives of Arab parties and three did not serve for other reasons. The new Knesset also includes a significant group of former senior security officials, among them former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen, former Mossad deputy director Ram Ben Barak, former senior police officer Yoav Segalovich, former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot and former generals Elazar Stern, Noam Tibon, Yair Golan and Kamil Abu Rukun.
The 26th Knesset is expected to set several records. At 24, Yonatan Shalev will become the youngest lawmaker to enter the Knesset in 66 years, breaking a record previously held by former minister Moshe Nissim.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will set another record as he begins serving in his 15th Knesset, surpassing Shimon Peres, who served in 14. The 26th Knesset will also set a record for female representation, with 33 women taking the oath, the highest number since Israel’s establishment.
