View source for Knesset

{{Short description|Unicameral legislature of Israel}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{for multi|Beit Knesset, a Jewish place of worship|Synagogue|the Knesset neighborhood in Nachlaot|Knesset Yisrael}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox Parliament
|name = The Knesset
|native_name = {{nobold|{{Script/Hebrew|הכנסת}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|الكنيست}}}}
|legislature = [[List of members of the twenty-fifth Knesset|25th Knesset]]
|background_color = #0038B8
|coa_pic = Emblem of Israel alternative blue-gold.svg
|session_room = PikiWiki Israel 7260 Knesset-Room.jpg
|coa_res = 100px
|house_type = Unicameral
|leader1_type = [[Speaker of the Knesset|Speaker]]
|leader1 = [[Amir Ohana]]
|party1 = [[Likud]]
|election1 = 29 December 2022
|leader2_type = [[Prime Minister of Israel|Prime Minister]]
|leader2 = [[Benjamin Netanyahu]]
|party2 = [[Likud]]
|election2 = 29 December 2022
|leader3_type = [[Leader of the Opposition (Israel)|Leader of the Opposition]]
|leader3 = [[Yair Lapid]] 
|party3 = [[Yesh Atid]] 
|election3 = 2 January 2023<ref>{{cite web|url=https://main.knesset.gov.il/EN/mk/Pages/HeadOfOpposition.aspx|title=Leader of the Opposition|work=Knesset|access-date=9 June 2025}}</ref>
|last_election1 = [[2022 Israeli legislative election|1 November 2022]]
|next_election1 = [[2026 Israeli legislative election|On or before 27 October 2026]]
|voting_system1 = [[Closed list]] [[Party-list proportional representation|proportional representation]]<br />[[D'Hondt method]] with a 3.25% [[electoral threshold]]
|members = 120
|structure1 = File:Israeli Knesset Current Composition.svg
|structure1_res = 250px
| political_groups1 = '''[[Thirty-seventh government of Israel|Government]] (60)'''
*{{Color box|{{party color|Likud}}|border=silver}} [[Likud]] (32)
*{{Color box|{{party color|Shas}}|border=silver}} [[Shas]] (11){{efn|Shas exited the government, though it remains part of the coalition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-861387|title=Deri to remain in Netanyahu's security cabinet, Shas's Arbel rescinds resignation|date=17 July 2025|access-date=29 July 2025|work=The Jerusalem Post|last1=Breuer|first1=Eliav}}</ref>}}
*{{Color box|{{party color|National Religious Party–Religious Zionism}}|border=silver}} [[National Religious Party–Religious Zionism|Mafdal–Religious Zionism]] (7)
*{{Color box|{{party color|Otzma Yehudit}}|border=silver}} [[Otzma Yehudit]] (6)
*{{Color box|{{Party color|New Hope (Israel)}}|border=silver}} [[New Hope (Israel)|New Hope]] (4)
'''Opposition (60)'''
*{{Color box|{{party color|Yesh Atid}}|border=silver}} [[Yesh Atid]] (24)
*{{Color box|{{party color|Blue and White (political party)}}|border=silver}} [[Blue and White (political party)|Blue & White National Unity]] (8){{efn|The Knesset faction is called Blue and White-National Unity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/knesset-panel-approves-changing-name-of-gantzs-party-to-blue-and-white-national-unity/|title=Knesset panel approves changing name of Gantz's party to Blue and White-National Unity|date=7 July 2025|access-date=8 August 2025|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref>}}
*{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|United Torah Judaism}}|border=silver}} [[United Torah Judaism]] (7)}}
**{{Color box|{{party color|Agudat Yisrael}}|border=silver}} [[Agudat Yisrael]] (4)
**{{Color box|{{party color|Degel HaTorah}}|border=silver}} [[Degel HaTorah]] (3)
*{{Color box|{{party color|Yisrael Beiteinu}}|border=silver}} [[Yisrael Beiteinu]] (6)
*{{Color box|{{party color|United Arab List}}|border=silver}} [[United Arab List|Ra'am]] (5)
*{{Color box|{{party color|Hadash–Ta'al}}|border=silver}} [[Hadash–Ta'al]] (5)
**{{Color box|{{party color|Hadash}}|border=silver}} [[Hadash]] (3)
***{{Color box|{{party color|Maki (political party)}}|border=silver}} [[Maki (political party)|Maki]] (2)
***{{Color box|{{party color|Independent}}|border=silver}} Independent ([[Ayman Odeh|1]])
**{{Color box|{{party color|Ta'al}}|border=silver}} [[Ta'al]] (2)
*{{Color box|{{party color|Israeli Labor Party}}|border=silver}} [[Israeli Labor Party|Labor]] (4){{efn|[[The Democrats (Israel)|The Democrats]]' members sit in the 25th Knesset as members of the [[Israeli Labor Party]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-843691|title=Coalition denies Labor Party's bid to change name to The Democrats|date=25 February 2025|access-date=9 June 2025|work=The Jerusalem Post|last1=Rubin|first1=Bentzi|last2=Breuer|first2=Eliav}}</ref>}}
*{{Color box|{{Party color|Noam (political party)}}|border=silver}} [[Noam (political party)|Noam]] ([[Avi Maoz|1]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/deputy-minister-avi-maoz-quits-government-railing-against-pressure-of-deep-state/ |title=Deputy Minister Avi Maoz quits government, railing against pressure of 'deep state'|work=[[The Times of Israel]]|first=Sam|last=Sokol|date=24 March 2025|access-date=27 March 2025}}</ref>
|meeting_place = [[Knesset building]], [[Givat Ram]], Jerusalem
|website = {{official website}}
}}{{Jerusalem sidebar}}
[[File:Israel's political system.svg|thumb|Political system of Israel]]

The '''Knesset''' ({{langx|he|הַכְּנֶסֶת|translit=HaKnesset}} {{IPA|he|haˈkneset||knesset.ogg}} {{lit|gathering, assembly}}, {{langx|ar|الْكِنِيسِت|al-Kinisit}}) is the [[Unicameralism|unicameral legislature]] of [[Israel]].

The Knesset passes all laws, elects the [[President of Israel|president]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Basic Law – The President of the State (1964), article 3. |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/basic-law-the-president-of-the-state |website=Jewish Virtual Library |access-date=13 October 2023}}</ref> and [[Prime Minister of Israel|prime minister]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Basic Law – The Government (2001)|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/basic-law-the-government-2001 |website=Jewish Virtual Library |access-date=13 October 2023}}</ref> approves the [[Cabinet of Israel|cabinet]], and supervises the work of the government, among other things. In addition, the Knesset elects the [[State Comptroller of Israel|state comptroller]]. It also has the power to waive the immunity of its members, remove the president and the state comptroller from office, dissolve the government in a [[constructive vote of no confidence]], and to dissolve itself and call new elections. The prime minister may also [[Dissolution of parliament|dissolve]] the Knesset. However, until an election is completed, the Knesset maintains authority in its current composition.<ref name="virtual">[https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Politics/knesset.html The Knesset]. Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved 8 September 2011.</ref> The Knesset meets in [[Knesset building|its building]] in [[Givat Ram]], [[Jerusalem]].

Members of the Knesset are elected nationwide through [[proportional representation]].

==Name==
The term "Knesset" is derived from the ancient ''Knesset HaGdola'' ({{langx|he|כְּנֶסֶת הַגְּדוֹלָה}}) or "[[Great Assembly]]", which according to [[Judaism|Jewish tradition]] was an assembly of 120 scribes, sages, and prophets, in the period from the end of the Biblical prophets to the time of the development of [[Rabbinic Judaism]] – about two centuries ending c. 200 BCE.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0019_0_19428.html|title=The Great Synagogue|work=Jewish Virtual Library}}</ref> There is, however, no organisational continuity and aside from the number of members, there is little similarity, as the ancient Knesset was a religious, completely unelected body. Members of the Knesset are known in Hebrew as חֲבֵר הַכְּנֶסֶת (''Ḥaver HaKnesset''), if male, or חַבְרַת הַכְּנֶסֶת (''Ḥavrat HaKnesset''), if female.

== History ==
The Knesset first convened on 14 February 1949 in [[Jerusalem]] following the [[1949 Israeli legislative election|20 January elections]], replacing the [[Provisional State Council]] which acted as Israel's official legislature from its date of independence on 14 May 1948 and succeeding the [[Assembly of Representatives (Mandatory Palestine)|Assembly of Representatives]] that had functioned as the [[Yishuv|Jewish community]]'s representative body during the [[Mandatory Palestine|Mandate]] era.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Knesset – History|url=https://knesset.gov.il/review/ReviewPage.aspx?lng=3&kns=1|access-date=11 August 2021|website=knesset.gov.il}}</ref> Before the construction of its current location, the Knesset met in Tel Aviv,<ref name=":0" /> before moving to the [[Froumine House|Froumine building]] in Jerusalem.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.knesset.gov.il/lexicon/eng/beit_fromin_eng.htm|title=Beit Froumine|work=Knesset.gov.il|date=30 August 1966|access-date=8 September 2011}}</ref>

The [[Knesset building]] sits on a hilltop in western Jerusalem in a district known as [[Sheikh Badr, Jerusalem|Sheikh Badr]] before the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]], now [[Givat Ram]]. The main building was financed by [[James de Rothschild (politician)|James de Rothschild]] as a gift to the State of Israel in his will and was completed in 1966. It was built on land leased from the [[Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem|Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem]], later purchased in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/771564.html|title=Defacement in Jerusalem monastery threatens diplomatic crisis|work=Haaretz|date=8 October 2006}}</ref> Over the years, significant additions to the structure were constructed, however, these were built at levels below and behind the main 1966 structure as not to detract from the original assembly building's appearance.

Despite numerous [[motion of no confidence|motions of no confidence]] being tabled in the Knesset, a government has only been defeated by one once,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.knesset.gov.il/description/eng/eng_work_mel5.htm|title=The Plenum – Motions of No-Confidence|work=Knesset website}}</ref> when [[Yitzhak Shamir]]'s [[Twenty-third government of Israel|government]] was brought down on 15 March 1990 as part of a plot that became known as "[[the dirty trick]]".

However, several governments have resigned as a result of no-confidence motions, even when they were not defeated. These include the [[Fifth government of Israel|fifth government]], which fell after Prime Minister [[Moshe Sharett]] resigned in June 1955 following the abstention of the [[General Zionists]] (part of the governing coalition) during a vote of no-confidence;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.knesset.gov.il/history/eng/eng_hist2_s.htm|title=Factional and Government Make-Up of the Second Knesset|work=Knesset website|archive-date=30 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430184329/https://www.knesset.gov.il/history/eng/eng_hist2_s.htm|access-date=19 November 2025}}</ref> the [[Ninth government of Israel|ninth government]], which fell after Prime Minister Ben-Gurion resigned in January 1961 over a motion of no-confidence on the [[Lavon Affair]];<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.knesset.gov.il/history/eng/eng_hist4_s.htm|title=Factional and Government Make-Up of the Fourth Knesset|work=Knesset website}}</ref> and the [[Seventeenth government of Israel|seventeenth government]], which resigned in December 1976 after the [[National Religious Party]] (part of the governing coalition) abstained in a motion of no-confidence against the government.

===Timeline===
[[File:The Knesset in winter.jpg|thumb|The Knesset in winter]]

*14 February 1949: First meeting of the Constituent Assembly, [[Jewish Agency for Israel|Jewish Agency]], Jerusalem
*16 February 1949: Name "Knesset" approved for the Constituent Assembly; number of members fixed at 120; the Knesset starts convening in [[Tel Aviv]] (first as at what is now the [[Opera Tower (Tel Aviv)|Opera Tower]], later at the San Remo Hotel in Tel Aviv)<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=The Knesset's Anniversary|url=https://main.knesset.gov.il/en/about/pages/birthday/birthday.aspx|access-date=11 August 2021|website=main.knesset.gov.il}}</ref>
*26 December 1949 – 8 March 1950: Knesset moved to Jerusalem; first convened at the Jewish Agency building
*13 March 1950: Knesset moved to the [[Frumin House|Froumine House]], in [[King George Street (Jerusalem)|King George Street, Jerusalem]]<ref name=":1" />
*1950–1955: Israeli government holds architectural competitions for the permanent Knesset building. [[Ossip Klarwein]]'s original design won the competition
*1955: Government approves plans to build the Knesset in its current location
*1957: [[James de Rothschild (politician)|James de Rothschild]] informs Prime Minister [[David Ben-Gurion]] of his desire to finance the construction of the building
*14 October 1958: Cornerstone-laying for new Knesset building
*30 August 1966: Dedication of new building (during the sixth Knesset)
*1981: Construction of new wing begins
*1992: New wing opens
*2001: Construction starts on a large new wing that essentially doubles the overall floorspace of the Knesset compound.
*2007: New large wing opens

[[File:Frumin entrance.jpg|thumb|Historic engraving on the [[Froumine House]], King George St., Jerusalem]]

==Government duties==
As the [[legislative branch]] of the [[Israeli system of government|Israeli government]], the Knesset passes all [[law]]s, elects the [[President of Israel|president]], approves the [[Cabinet of Israel|cabinet]], and supervises the work of the government through its committees. It also has the power to waive the immunity of its members, remove the president and the [[Comptroller of Israel|State Comptroller]] from office, and to dissolve itself and call new elections.

The Knesset has ''[[de jure]]'' [[parliamentary supremacy]], and can pass any law by a simple majority, even one that might arguably conflict with the [[Basic Laws of Israel]], unless the basic law includes specific conditions for its modification; in accordance with a plan adopted in 1950, the Basic Laws can be adopted and amended by the Knesset, acting in its capacity as a [[Constituent Assembly]].<ref name=basiclaw /> The Knesset itself is regulated by a Basic Law called "Basic Law: the Knesset".

In addition to the absence of a formal [[constitution]], and with no Basic Law thus far being adopted which formally grants a power of [[judicial review]] to the [[judiciary]], the [[Supreme Court of Israel]] has since the early 1990s asserted its authority, when sitting as the High Court of Justice, to invalidate provisions of Knesset laws it has found to be inconsistent with Basic Law.<ref name=basiclaw>{{cite web |url=https://www.knesset.gov.il/description/eng/eng_mimshal_yesod.htm |title=Basic Laws – Introduction |publisher=Knesset |access-date=5 March 2010}}</ref> The Knesset is presided over by a [[List of Knesset speakers|Speaker]] and Deputy Speakers, called the Knesset Presidium, which currently consists of:<ref>{{Cite web |title=יושב-ראש הכנסת |url=https://main.knesset.gov.il/mk/pages/speaker/speakermain.aspx |access-date=24 January 2025 |website=Knesset |language=he}}</ref>

{|class=wikitable
!Position
!Name
!Faction
!Party
|-
|Speaker
|[[Amir Ohana]]
|[[Likud]]
|[[Likud]]
|-
|Deputy
|[[Nissim Vaturi]]
|[[Likud]]
|[[Likud]]
|-
|Deputy
|[[Meir Cohen (politician)|Meir Cohen]]
|[[Yesh Atid]]
|[[Yesh Atid]]
|-
|Deputy
|[[Hanoch Milwidsky]]
|[[Likud]]
|[[Likud]]
|-
|Deputy
|[[Erez Malul]]
|[[Shas]]
|[[Shas]]
|-
|Deputy
|[[Evgeny Sova]]
|[[Yisrael Beiteinu]]
|[[Yisrael Beiteinu]]
|-
|Deputy
|[[Moshe Solomon]]
|[[National Religious Party–Religious Zionism|Religious Zionist Party]]
|[[National Religious Party–Religious Zionism|Religious Zionist Party]]
|-
|Deputy
|[[Orit Farkash-Hacohen]]
|[[National Unity (Israel)|National Unity Party]]
|[[National Unity (Israel)|National Unity Party]]
|-
|Deputy
|[[Moshe Roth]]
|[[United Torah Judaism]]
|[[Agudat Yisrael]]
|}

==Knesset committees==
{{Politics of Israel}}

{{main|Committees of the Knesset}}

Knesset committees amend bills on various appropriate subjects. 
Knesset members are assigned to
committees, while chairpersons are chosen by their members, on recommendation of the House Committee, and their factional composition represents that of the Knesset itself. Committees may elect sub-committees and delegate powers to them, or establish joint committees for issues concerning more than one committee. To further their deliberations, they invite non-voting people, like government ministers, senior officials, and experts in the matter being discussed. Committees may request explanations and information from any relevant ministers in any matter within their competence, and the ministers or persons appointed by them must provide the explanation or information requested.<ref name="virtual"/>

There are four types of committees in the Knesset. Permanent committees amend proposed legislation dealing with their area of expertise, and may initiate legislation. However, such legislation may only deal with [[Basic Laws of Israel|Basic Laws]] and laws dealing with the Knesset, elections to the Knesset, Knesset members, or the [[State Comptroller of Israel|State Comptroller]]. Special committees function in a similar manner to permanent committees, but are appointed to deal with particular manners at hand, and can be dissolved or turned into permanent committees. Parliamentary inquiry committees are appointed by the plenum to deal with issues viewed as having special national importance. In addition, there are two types of committees that convene only when needed: the Interpretations Committee, made up of the Speaker and eight members chosen by the House Committee, deals with appeals against the interpretation given by the Speaker during a sitting of the plenum to the Knesset rules of procedure or precedents, and Public Committees, established to deal with issues that are connected to the Knesset.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.knesset.gov.il/description/eng/eng_work_mel2.htm|title=Legislation|work=Knesset.gov.il|access-date=19 November 2025|archive-date=17 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150117084433/https://www.knesset.gov.il/description/eng/eng_work_mel2.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.knesset.gov.il/description/eng/eng_work_vaada.htm|title=Knesset Committees|work=Knesset.gov.il|access-date=19 November 2025|archive-date=17 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150117084835/https://www.knesset.gov.il/description/eng/eng_work_vaada.htm}}</ref>

'''Permanent committees:'''
*[[House Committee (Israel)|House Committee]]
*[[Finance Committee (Israel)|Finance Committee]]
*Economic Affairs Committee
*[[Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee]]
*Interior and Environment Committee
*Immigration, Absorption, and Diaspora Affairs Committee
*[[Knesset Committee on Education, Culture and Sports|Education, Culture, and Sports Committee]]
*[[Constitution, Law and Justice Committee]]
*[[National Security Committee (Israel)|National Security Committee]]
*[[Labor and Welfare Committee]]
*[[Health Committee]]
*Science and Technology Committee
*[[State Control Committee]]
*[[Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality|Committee on the Status of Women]]

'''Special committees:'''
*Committee on Drug Abuse
*Committee on the Rights of the Child
*Committee on Foreign Workers
*[[Central Elections Committee]]
*Public Petitions Committee

The other committees are the Arrangements Committee and the Ethics Committee. The Ethics Committee is responsible for jurisdiction over Knesset members who violate the rules of ethics of the Knesset, or are involved in illegal activities outside the Knesset. Within the framework of responsibility, the Ethics Committee may place various sanctions on a member, but is not allowed to restrict a member's right to vote. The Arrangements Committee proposes the makeup of the permanent committees following each election, as well as suggesting committee chairs, lays down the sitting arrangements of political parties in the Knesset, and the distribution of offices in the Knesset building to members and parties.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.knesset.gov.il/description/eng/eng_work_org.htm#2|title=The Organisation of the Work of the Knesset|work=Knesset.gov.il|date=17 February 2003|access-date=19 November 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150117084803/https://www.knesset.gov.il/description/eng/eng_work_org.htm#2|archive-date=17 January 2015}}</ref>

==Caucuses==
Knesset members often join in formal or informal groups known as "lobbies" or "caucuses", to advocate for a particular topic. There are hundreds of such caucuses in the Knesset. The [[Knesset Christian Allies Caucus]] and the [[Knesset Land of Israel Caucus]] are two of the largest and most active caucuses.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lobbies of the Twentieth Knesset |url=https://knesset.gov.il/lobby/eng/LobbyList_eng.asp |website=knesset.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Ahren |first=Raphael |title=Coalition chief heading caucus that seeks to retain entire West Bank |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/coalition-chief-heading-caucus-that-seeks-to-retain-entire-west-bank/ |work=The Times of Israel |date=11 June 2013 |quote=Knesset caucuses, sometimes called lobbies, are informal groups of parliamentarians that gather around a certain cause or topic. There are hundreds of such caucuses, but the one Levin and Strock now head is one of the largest – if not the largest, with 20–30 members in the last Knesset – and most active.}}</ref>

==Membership==
[[File:Knesset Building (South Side).JPG|right|thumb|250px|Knesset building (2007)]]
[[File:KnessetBuildingNov152022.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The Knesset and its surroundings (2022)]]
The Knesset numbers 120 members, after the size of the [[Great Assembly]]. The subject of Knesset membership has often been a cause for proposed reforms. Under the [[Norwegian Law (Israel)|Norwegian Law]], Knesset members who are appointed to ministerial positions are allowed to resign and allow the next person on their party's list to take their seat. If they leave the cabinet, they are able to return to the Knesset to take the place of their replacement.

==Knesset elections==
{{main|Elections in Israel}}
The 120 members of the Knesset (MKs)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/by-the-lists-all-120-incoming-knesset-members/|title=All 120 incoming Knesset members|work=The Times of Israel|access-date=6 June 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> are popularly elected from a single nationwide electoral district to concurrent four-year terms, subject to calls for early elections (which are quite common). All Israeli citizens 18 years or older may vote in legislative elections, which are conducted by [[secret ballot]].

Knesset seats are allocated among the various parties using the [[D'Hondt method]] of [[party list proportional representation]]. A party or electoral alliance must pass an [[election threshold]] of 3.25%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.knesset.gov.il/spokesman/eng/PR_eng.asp?PRID=11193|work=www.knesset.gov.il|title=Knesset passes governance laws; electoral threshold raised |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322200552/https://www.knesset.gov.il/spokesman/eng/PR_eng.asp?PRID=11193|archive-date=22 March 2015|access-date=11 November 2025}}</ref> of the overall vote to be allocated a Knesset seat (in 2022, one seat for every 152,000 votes). Parties select their candidates using a [[closed list]]. Thus, voters select the party of their choice, not any specific candidate.

The electoral threshold was previously set at 1% from 1949 to 1992, then 1.5% from 1992 to 2003, and then 2% until March 2014 when the current threshold of 3.25% was passed (effective with elections for the 20th Knesset).<ref name="newthreshold325">{{cite news |last=Lis |first=Jonathan |title=Israel raises electoral threshold to 3.25 percent |url=https://www.haaretz.com/news/national/1.579289 |work=Haaretz |date=12 March 2014 |access-date=8 January 2015}}</ref> As a result of the low threshold, a typical Knesset has 10 or more factions represented. No party or faction has ever won the 61 seats necessary for a majority; the closest being the 56 seats won by the [[Alignment (political party)|Alignment]] in the [[1969 Israeli legislative election|1969 elections]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=1969 Election |url=https://www.idi.org.il/policy/parties-and-elections/elections/1969/ |access-date=24 May 2022 |website=[[Israel Democracy Institute]] |language=he}}</ref> (the Alignment had briefly held 63 seats going into the 1969 elections after being formed shortly beforehand by the merger of several parties, the only occasion on which any party or faction has ever held a majority).<ref>{{Cite web |title=להקים מחדש את "המערך" |url=https://www.israelhayom.co.il/opinion/167795 |access-date=19 May 2022 |website=www.israelhayom.co.il |language=he}}</ref> As a result, while there have never been more than three numerically major parties at any time and only four parties (or their antecedents) have ever led governments, all Israeli governments have been coalitions.

After an election, the president meets with the leaders of every party that won Knesset seats and asks them to recommend which party leader should form the government. The president then nominates the party leader who is most likely to command the support of a majority in the Knesset (though not necessarily the leader of the largest party/faction in the chamber). The prime minister-designate has 42 days to put together a viable government (extensions can be granted and often are), and then must win a vote of confidence in the Knesset before taking office.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}

The following is a list of Knesset elections:
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*[[1949 Israeli Constituent Assembly election]]
*[[1951 Israeli legislative election]]
*[[1955 Israeli legislative election]]
*[[1959 Israeli legislative election]]
*[[1961 Israeli legislative election]]
*[[1965 Israeli legislative election]]
*[[1969 Israeli legislative election]]
*[[1973 Israeli legislative election]]
*[[1977 Israeli legislative election]]
*[[1981 Israeli legislative election]]
*[[1984 Israeli legislative election]]
*[[1988 Israeli legislative election]]
*[[1992 Israeli legislative election]]
*[[1996 Israeli general election]]
*[[1999 Israeli general election]]
*[[2003 Israeli legislative election]]
*[[2006 Israeli legislative election]]
*[[2009 Israeli legislative election]]
*[[2013 Israeli legislative election]]
*[[2015 Israeli legislative election]]
*[[April 2019 Israeli legislative election]]
*[[September 2019 Israeli legislative election]]
*[[2020 Israeli legislative election]]
*[[2021 Israeli legislative election]]
*[[2022 Israeli legislative election]]
{{div col end}}

==Current composition==
{{main list|List of members of the twenty-fifth Knesset}}
The table below lists the parliamentary factions represented in the [[List of members of the twenty-fifth Knesset|25th Knesset]].
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan=2| Name
! rowspan="2"| Ideology
! rowspan="2"| Symbol
! rowspan="2"| Primary demographic
! rowspan="2"| Leader
! colspan="2"| 2022 result
|-
! Votes (%)
! Seats
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Likud}};"|
| [[Likud]]
| [[Conservatism]]<br/>[[National liberalism]]<br/>[[Right-wing populism]]
| align=center|{{Script/Hebrew|מחל}}
| –
| {{nowarp|[[Benjamin Netanyahu]]}} <br>[[Prime Minister of Israel]]
| style="text-align:center;"|23.41%
| {{Composition bar|32|120|{{party color|Likud}}}}
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Yesh Atid}};"|
| [[Yesh Atid]]
| [[Liberal Zionism]]<br/>[[Secularism]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{Script/Hebrew|פה}}
| –
| [[Yair Lapid]]<br>[[Leader of the Opposition]]
| style="text-align:center;"|17.78%
| {{Composition bar|23|120|{{party color|Yesh Atid}}}}
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Otzma Yehudit}};"|
| [[Otzma Yehudit]]
| [[Kahanism]]
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan=3| {{Script/Hebrew|ט}}
| –
| [[Itamar Ben-Gvir]]<br>[[Ministry of National Security (Israel)|Minister of National Security]]
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan=3|10.83%
| {{Composition bar|7|120|{{party color|Otzma Yehudit}}}}
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Religious Zionist Party}};"|
| [[National Religious Party–Religious Zionism|Mafdal – Religious Zionism]]
| [[Religious Zionism]]
| Israeli settlers, [[Modern Orthodox Judaism|Modern Orthodox]] and [[Hardal]] Jews
| [[Bezalel Smotrich]] <br> [[Ministry of Finance (Israel)|Minister of Finance]]
| {{Composition bar|6|120|{{party color|Religious Zionist Party}}}}
|-
| style="background:#01AFF0;"|
| [[Noam (political party)|Noam]]
| [[Religious Zionism]]<br/>[[Religious conservatism]]
| –
| [[Avi Maoz]]
| {{Composition bar|1|120|hex=#01AFF0}}
|-
| style="background:{{party color|National Unity Party (Israel)}};"|
| [[National Unity (Israel)|National Unity]]
| [[Zionism]]
| style="text-align:center;"|{{Script/Hebrew|כן}}
| –
| [[Benny Gantz]]
| style="text-align:center;"|9.08%
| {{Composition bar|12|120|{{party color|National Unity Party (Israel)}}}}
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Shas}};"|
| [[Shas]]
| [[Religious conservatism]]
| align=center|{{Script/Hebrew|שס}}
| [[Sephardic Jews|Sephardi]] and<br>[[Mizrahi Jews|Mizrahi]] [[Haredi Judaism|Haredim]]
| [[Aryeh Deri]]
| style="text-align:center;"|8.24%
| {{Composition bar|11|120|{{party color|Shas}}}}
|-
| style="background:{{party color|United Torah Judaism}};"|
| [[United Torah Judaism]]
| [[Religious conservatism]]<br/>[[Non-Zionism#Haredi non-Zionism|Haredi non-Zionism]]
| style="text-align:center;"|{{Script/Hebrew|ג}}
| [[Ashkenazi Jews|Ashkenazi]] [[Haredi Judaism|Haredim]] 
| [[Yitzhak Goldknopf]]
| style="text-align:center;"|5.88%
| {{Composition bar|7|120|{{party color|United Torah Judaism}}}}
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Yisrael Beiteinu}};"|
| [[Yisrael Beiteinu]]
| [[Nationalism]]<br/>[[Secularism]]<br/>[[Conservatism]]
| style="text-align:center;"|{{Script/Hebrew|ל}}
| [[1990s Post-Soviet aliyah|Russian-speakers]]
| [[Avigdor Lieberman]]
| style="text-align:center;"|4.49%
| {{Composition bar|6|120|{{party color|Yisrael Beiteinu}}}}
|-
| style="background:{{party color|United Arab List}};"|
| [[United Arab List|Ra'am]]
| [[Islamism]]<br/>[[Conservatism]]
| style="text-align:center;"|{{Script/Hebrew|עם}}
| [[Arab citizens of Israel|Israeli Arab]] [[Sunni Muslims]], [[Negev Bedouin]]
| [[Mansour Abbas]]
| style="text-align:center;" |4.07%
| {{Composition bar|5|120|{{party color|United Arab List}}}}
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Hadash–Ta'al}};"|
| [[Hadash–Ta'al]]
| [[Israeli Arab]] interests<br/>[[Secularism]]
| style="text-align:center;"|{{Script/Hebrew|ום}}
| [[Arab citizens of Israel|Israeli Arabs]]
| [[Ayman Odeh]]
| style="text-align:center;" |3.75%
| {{Composition bar|5|120|{{party color|Hadash–Ta'al}}}}
|-
| style="background:{{Party color|Israeli Labor Party}};"|
| [[Israeli Labor Party|Labor]]
| [[Zionism]]<br>[[Progressivism]]<br/>[[Secularism]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 
| –
| [[Yair Golan]]
| style="text-align:center;" |3.69%
| {{Composition bar|4|120|{{party color|Labor}}}}
|-
|}

==Historical composition==
{| class="wikitable" width="100%" style="border:solid #000000 1px;font-size:95%;"
|-
| colspan="2" |
{| width="100%" style="font-size:90%;"
| width="40" |
|{{legend|{{party color|Maki (historical political party)}}|[[Maki (historical political party)|Maki]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Mapam}}|[[Mapam]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Ahdut HaAvoda}}|[[Ahdut HaAvoda]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Mapai}}|[[Mapai]]}}
|{{legend|#AF0000|[[Arab satellite lists|Mapai's satelliites]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Progressive Party (Israel)}}|[[Progressive Party (Israel)|Progressive]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Israeli Liberal Party}}|[[Israeli Liberal Party|Liberal]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|General Zionists}}|[[General Zionists]]}}
|{{legend|#808080|Others}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Sephardim and Oriental Communities}}|[[Sephardim and Oriental Communities]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Hapoel HaMizrachi}}|[[Hapoel HaMizrachi]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|United Religious Front}}|[[United Religious Front]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Herut}}|[[Herut]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|National Religious Party}}|[[National Religious Party|Mafdal]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Agudat Yisrael}}|[[Agudat Yisrael]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Religious Torah Front}}|[[Religious Torah Front]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Poalei Agudat Yisrael}}|[[Poalei Agudat Yisrael|PAI]]}}
|}
|-
| width="40" | [[1949 Israeli Constituent Assembly election|1949]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Maki (historical political party)}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Mapam}}; width: 15.83%"|19
| style="background-color: {{party color|Mapai}}; width: 38.33%"|46
| style="background-color: #AF0000; width: 1.67%"| 2
| style="background-color: {{party color|Progressive Party (Israel)}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|General Zionists}}; width: 5.83%"| 7
| style="background-color: #808080; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Sephardim and Oriental Communities}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Religious Front}}; width: 13.33%"|16
| style="background-color: {{party color|Herut}}; width: 11.67%"|14
|}
|-
| [[1951 Israeli legislative election|1951]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Maki (historical political party)}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|Mapam}}; width: 12.50%"|15
| style="background-color: {{party color|Mapai}}; width: 37.50%"|45
| style="background-color: #AF0000; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|Progressive Party (Israel)}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|General Zionists}}; width: 16.67%"|20
| style="background-color: #808080; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Sephardim and Oriental Communities}}; width: 1.67%"| 2
| style="background-color: {{party color|Hapoel HaMizrachi}}; width: 6.67%"| 8
| style="background-color: {{party color|Herut}}; width: 6.67%"| 8
| style="background-color: {{party color|Agudat Yisrael}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Poalei Agudat Yisrael}}; width: 1.67%"| 2
|}
|-
| [[1955 Israeli legislative election|1955]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Maki (historical political party)}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: {{party color|Mapam}}; width: 7.50%"| 9
| style="background-color: {{party color|Ahdut HaAvoda}}; width: 8.33%"|10
| style="background-color: {{party color|Mapai}}; width: 33.33%"|40
| style="background-color: #AF0000; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|Progressive Party (Israel)}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|General Zionists}}; width: 10.83%"|13
| style="background-color: {{party color|Herut}}; width: 12.50%"|15
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Religious Party}}; width: 9.17%"|11
| style="background-color: {{party color|Religious Torah Front}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
|}
|-
| [[1959 Israeli legislative election|1959]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Maki (historical political party)}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Mapam}}; width: 7.50%"| 9
| style="background-color: {{party color|Ahdut HaAvoda}}; width: 5.83%"| 7
| style="background-color: {{party color|Mapai}}; width: 39.17%"|47
| style="background-color: #AF0000; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|Progressive Party (Israel)}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: {{party color|General Zionists}}; width: 6.67%"| 8
| style="background-color: {{party color|Herut}}; width: 14.17%"|17
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Religious Party}}; width: 10.00%"|12
| style="background-color: {{party color|Religious Torah Front}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
|}
|-
| [[1961 Israeli legislative election|1961]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Maki (historical political party)}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|Mapam}}; width: 7.50%"| 9
| style="background-color: {{party color|Ahdut HaAvoda}}; width: 6.67%"| 8
| style="background-color: {{party color|Mapai}}; width: 35.00%"|42
| style="background-color: #AF0000; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Israeli Liberal Party}}; width: 14.17%"|17
| style="background-color: {{party color|Herut}}; width: 14.17%"|17
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Religious Party}}; width: 10.00%"|12
| style="background-color: {{party color|Agudat Yisrael}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Poalei Agudat Yisrael}}; width: 1.67%"| 2
|}
|}

{| class="wikitable" width="100%" style="border:solid #000000 1px;font-size:95%;"
|-
| colspan="2" | 
{| width="100%" style="font-size:90%;"
| width="40" |
|{{legend|{{party color|Maki (historical political party)}}|[[Maki (historical political party)|Maki]] / [[Moked]] / [[Left Camp of Israel|Sheli]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Hadash}}|[[Maki (political party)|Rakah]] / [[Hadash]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Mapam}}|[[Mapam]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Ratz (political party)}}|[[Ratz (political party)|Ratz]]}}
|{{legend|#AF0000|[[Arab satellite lists|Mapai's satelliites]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Alignment (Israel)}}|[[Alignment (Israel)|Alignment]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Rafi (political party)}}|[[Rafi (political party)|Rafi]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Shinui}}|[[Shinui]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Independent Liberals (Israel)}}|[[Independent Liberals (Israel)|Ind. Liberals]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|National List}}|[[National List]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Democratic Movement for Change}}|[[Democratic Movement for Change|Dash]]}}
|{{legend|#808080|Others}}
|{{legend|{{party color|United Arab List}}|[[Arab Democratic Party (Israel)|Mada]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Gahal}}|[[Gahal]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Likud}}|[[Likud]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Shas}}|[[Shas]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Tzomet}}|[[Tzomet]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|National Religious Party}}|[[National Religious Party|Mafdal]]}}
|{{legend|#5294AE|[[Tami (political party)|Tami]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Agudat Yisrael}}|[[Agudat Yisrael]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Religious Torah Front}}|[[Religious Torah Front]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Poalei Agudat Yisrael}}|[[Poalei Agudat Yisrael|PAI]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Tehiya}}|[[Tehiya]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Moledet}}|[[Moledet]]}}
|}
|-
| width="40" | [[1965 Israeli legislative election|1965]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Maki (historical political party)}}; width: 0.83%"| 1
| style="background-color: {{party color|Hadash}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Mapam}}; width: 6.67%"| 8
| style="background-color: #AF0000; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Alignment (Israel)}}; width: 37.50%"|45
| style="background-color: {{party color|Rafi (political party)}}; width: 8.33%"|10
| style="background-color: {{party color|Independent Liberals (Israel)}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: #808080; width: 0.83%"| 1
| style="background-color: {{party color|Gahal}}; width: 21.67%"|26
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Religious Party}}; width: 9.17%"|11
| style="background-color: {{party color|Agudat Yisrael}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Poalei Agudat Yisrael}}; width: 1.67%"| 2
|}
|-
| [[1969 Israeli legislative election|1969]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Maki (historical political party)}}; width: 0.83%"| 1
| style="background-color: {{party color|Hadash}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: #AF0000; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Alignment (Israel)}}; width: 46.67%"|56
| style="background-color: {{party color|Independent Liberals (Israel)}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|National List}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: #808080; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Gahal}}; width: 21.67%"|26
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Religious Party}}; width: 10.00%"|12
| style="background-color: {{party color|Agudat Yisrael}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Poalei Agudat Yisrael}}; width: 1.67%"| 2
|}
|-
| [[1973 Israeli legislative election|1973]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Maki (historical political party)}}; width: 0.83%"| 1
| style="background-color: {{party color|Hadash}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Ratz (political party)}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: #AF0000; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Alignment (Israel)}}; width: 42.50%"|51
| style="background-color: {{party color|Independent Liberals (Israel)}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Likud}}; width: 32.50%"|39
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Religious Party}}; width: 8.33%"|10
| style="background-color: {{party color|Religious Torah Front}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
|}
|-
| [[1977 Israeli legislative election|1977]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Maki (historical political party)}}; width: 1.67%"| 2
| style="background-color: {{party color|Hadash}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|Ratz (political party)}}; width: 0.83%"| 1
| style="background-color: #AF0000; width: 0.83%"| 1
| style="background-color: {{party color|Alignment (Israel)}}; width: 26.67%"|32
| style="background-color: {{party color|Independent Liberals (Israel)}}; width: 0.83%"| 1
| style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Movement for Change}}; width: 12.50%"|15
| style="background-color: #808080; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Likud}}; width: 35.83%"|43
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Religious Party}}; width: 10.00%"|12
| style="background-color: {{party color|Agudat Yisrael}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Poalei Agudat Yisrael}}; width: 0.83%"| 1
|}
|-
| [[1981 Israeli legislative election|1981]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Hadash}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Ratz (political party)}}; width: 0.83%"| 1
| style="background-color: {{party color|Alignment (Israel)}}; width: 39.17%"|47
| style="background-color: {{party color|Shinui}}; width: 1.67%"| 2
| style="background-color: #808080; width: 1.67%"| 2
| style="background-color: {{party color|Likud}}; width: 40.00%"|48
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Religious Party}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: #5294AE; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Agudat Yisrael}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Tehiya}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
|}
|-
| [[1984 Israeli legislative election|1984]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Hadash}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Ratz (political party)}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Alignment (Israel)}}; width: 36.67%"|44
| style="background-color: {{party color|Shinui}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: #808080; width: 7.50%"| 9
| style="background-color: {{party color|Likud}}; width: 34.17%"|41
| style="background-color: {{party color|Shas}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Tzomet}}; width: 0.83%"| 1
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Religious Party}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: #5294AE; width: 0.83%"| 1
| style="background-color: {{party color|Agudat Yisrael}}; width: 1.67%"| 2
| style="background-color: {{party color|Tehiya}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
|}
|-
| [[1988 Israeli legislative election|1988]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Hadash}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Mapam}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Ratz (political party)}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|Alignment (Israel)}}; width: 32.50%"|39
| style="background-color: {{party color|Shinui}}; width: 1.67%"| 2
| style="background-color: #808080; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Arab List}}; width: 0.83%"| 1
| style="background-color: {{party color|Likud}}; width: 33.33%"|40
| style="background-color: {{party color|Shas}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: {{party color|Tzomet}}; width: 1.67%"| 2
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Religious Party}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|Agudat Yisrael}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|Tehiya}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Moledet}}; width: 1.67%"| 2
|}
|}

{| class="wikitable" width="100%" style="border:solid #000000 1px;font-size:95%;"
|-
| colspan="2" | 
{| width="100%" style="font-size:90%;"
| width="40" |
|{{legend|{{party color|Hadash}}|[[Maki (political party)|Rakah]] / [[Hadash]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Balad (political party)}}|[[Balad (political party)|Balad]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Joint List}}|[[Joint List]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|One Nation (Israel)}}|[[One Nation (Israel)|One Nation]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Meretz}}|[[Meretz]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Israeli Labor Party}}|[[Israeli Labor Party|Labour]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Hatnua}}|[[Hatnua]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Third Way (Israel)}}|[[Third Way (Israel)|Third Way]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Shinui}}|[[Shinui]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Blue and White (political alliance)}}|[[Blue and White (political alliance)|B&W]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Yesh Atid}}|[[Yesh Atid]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Kadima}}|[[Kadima]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Dor (political party)}}|[[Dor (political party)|Gil]]}}
|{{legend|#808080|Others}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Center Party (Israel)}}|[[Center Party (Israel)|Center]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|National Unity Party (Israel)}}|[[National Unity (Israel)|National Unity]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Kulanu}}|[[Kulanu]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|United Arab List}}|[[Arab Democratic Party (Israel)|Mada]] / [[United Arab List|Ra'am]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|New Hope (Israel)}}|[[New Hope (Israel)|New Hope]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Yisrael Beiteinu}}|[[Yisrael Beiteinu]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Yisrael BaAliyah}}|[[Yisrael BaAliyah]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Likud}}|[[Likud]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Shas}}|[[Shas]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Tzomet}}|[[Tzomet]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|United Torah Judaism}}|[[United Torah Judaism|UTJ]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|National Religious Party}}|[[National Religious Party|Mafdal]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|The Jewish Home}}|[[The Jewish Home]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Yamina}}|[[Union of Right-Wing Parties|URWP]] / [[Yamina]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|National Union (Israel)}}|[[National Union (Israel)|National Union]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Moledet}}|[[Moledet]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Religious Zionist Party}}|[[Religious Zionist Party|Tkuma]]–[[Otzma Yehudit]]}}
|}
|-
| width="40" | [[1992 Israeli legislative election|1992]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Hadash}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Meretz}}; width: 10.00%"|12
| style="background-color: {{party color|Israeli Labor Party}}; width: 36.67%"|44
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Arab List}}; width: 1.67%"| 2
| style="background-color: {{party color|Likud}}; width: 26.67%"|32
| style="background-color: {{party color|Shas}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: {{party color|Tzomet}}; width: 6.67%"| 8
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Torah Judaism}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Religious Party}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: {{party color|Moledet}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
|}
|-
| [[1996 Israeli legislative election|1996]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Hadash}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Balad (political party)}}; width: 0.83%"| 1
| style="background-color: {{party color|Meretz}}; width: 7.50%"| 9
| style="background-color: {{party color|Israeli Labor Party}}; width: 28.33%"|34
| style="background-color: {{party color|Third Way (Israel)}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Arab List}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Yisrael BaAliyah}}; width: 5.83%"| 7
| style="background-color: {{party color|Likud}}; width: 26.67%"|32
| style="background-color: {{party color|Shas}}; width: 8.33%"|10
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Torah Judaism}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Religious Party}}; width: 7.50%"| 9
| style="background-color: {{party color|Moledet}}; width: 1.67%"| 2
|}
|-
| [[1999 Israeli legislative election|1999]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Hadash}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Balad (political party)}}; width: 1.67%"| 2
| style="background-color: {{party color|One Nation (Israel)}}; width: 1.67%"| 2
| style="background-color: {{party color|Meretz}}; width: 8.33%"|10
| style="background-color: {{party color|Israeli Labor Party}}; width: 21.67%"|26
| style="background-color: {{party color|Shinui}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: {{party color|Center Party (Israel)}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Arab List}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|Yisrael Beiteinu}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Yisrael BaAliyah}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: {{party color|Likud}}; width: 15.83%"|19
| style="background-color: {{party color|Shas}}; width: 14.17%"|17
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Torah Judaism}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Religious Party}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Union (Israel)}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
|}
|-
| [[2003 Israeli legislative election|2003]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Hadash}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Balad (political party)}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|One Nation (Israel)}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Meretz}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: {{party color|Israeli Labor Party}}; width: 15.83%"|19
| style="background-color: {{party color|Shinui}}; width: 12.50%"|15
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Arab List}}; width: 1.67%"| 2
| style="background-color: {{party color|Yisrael BaAliyah}}; width: 1.67%"| 2
| style="background-color: {{party color|Likud}}; width: 31.67%"|38
| style="background-color: {{party color|Shas}}; width: 9.17%"|11
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Torah Judaism}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Religious Party}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Union (Israel)}}; width: 5.83%"| 7
|}
|-
| [[2006 Israeli legislative election|2006]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Hadash}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Balad (political party)}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Meretz}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|Israeli Labor Party}}; width: 15.83%"|19
| style="background-color: {{party color|Kadima}}; width: 24.17%"|29
| style="background-color: {{party color|Dor (political party)}}; width: 5.83%"| 7
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Arab List}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Yisrael Beiteinu}}; width: 9.17%"|11
| style="background-color: {{party color|Likud}}; width: 10.00%"|12
| style="background-color: {{party color|Shas}}; width: 10.00%"|12
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Torah Judaism}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Religious Party}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Union (Israel)}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
|}
|-
| [[2009 Israeli legislative election|2009]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Hadash}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Balad (political party)}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Meretz}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Israeli Labor Party}}; width: 10.83%"|13
| style="background-color: {{party color|Kadima}}; width: 23.33%"|28
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Arab List}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Yisrael Beiteinu}}; width: 12.50%"|15
| style="background-color: {{party color|Likud}}; width: 22.50%"|27
| style="background-color: {{party color|Shas}}; width: 9.17%"|11
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Torah Judaism}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|The Jewish Home}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Union (Israel)}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
|}
|-
| [[2013 Israeli legislative election|2013]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Hadash}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Balad (political party)}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Meretz}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: {{party color|Israeli Labor Party}}; width: 12.50%"|15
| style="background-color: {{party color|Hatnua}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: {{party color|Yesh Atid}}; width: 15.83%"|19
| style="background-color: {{party color|Kadima}}; width: 1.67%"| 2
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Arab List}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Yisrael Beiteinu}}; width: 10.83%"|13
| style="background-color: {{party color|Likud}}; width: 15.00%"|18
| style="background-color: {{party color|Shas}}; width: 9.17%"|11
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Torah Judaism}}; width: 5.83%"| 7
| style="background-color: {{party color|The Jewish Home}}; width: 10.00%"|12
|}
|-
| [[2015 Israeli legislative election|2015]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Joint List}}; width: 10.83%"|13
| style="background-color: {{party color|Meretz}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|Israeli Labor Party}}; width: 15.00%"|18
| style="background-color: {{party color|Hatnua}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|Yesh Atid}}; width: 9.17%"|11
| style="background-color: #808080; width: 0.83%"| 1
| style="background-color: {{party color|Kulanu}}; width: 8.33%"|10
| style="background-color: {{party color|Yisrael Beiteinu}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: {{party color|Likud}}; width: 25.00%"|30
| style="background-color: {{party color|Shas}}; width: 5.83%"| 7
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Torah Judaism}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: {{party color|The Jewish Home}}; width: 6.67%"| 8
|}
|-
| [[April 2019 Israeli legislative election|2019.04]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Hadash}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: {{party color|Balad (political party)}}; width: 1.67%"| 2
| style="background-color: {{party color|Meretz}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Israeli Labor Party}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: {{party color|Blue and White (political alliance)}}; width: 29.17%"|35
| style="background-color: {{party color|Kulanu}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Arab List}}; width: 1.67%"| 2
| style="background-color: {{party color|Yisrael Beiteinu}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|Likud}}; width: 29.17%"|35
| style="background-color: {{party color|Shas}}; width: 6.67%"| 8
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Torah Judaism}}; width: 6.67%"| 8
| style="background-color: {{party color|Yamina}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
|}
|-
| [[September 2019 Israeli legislative election|2019.09]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Joint List}}; width: 10.83%"|13
| style="background-color: {{party color|Meretz}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|Israeli Labor Party}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: {{party color|Blue and White (political alliance)}}; width: 27.50%"|33
| style="background-color: {{party color|Yisrael Beiteinu}}; width: 6.67%"| 8
| style="background-color: {{party color|Likud}}; width: 26.67%"|32
| style="background-color: {{party color|Shas}}; width: 7.50%"| 9
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Torah Judaism}}; width: 5.83%"| 7
| style="background-color: {{party color|Yamina}}; width: 5.83%"| 7
|}
|-
| [[2020 Israeli legislative election|2020]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Joint List}}; width: 12.50%"|15
| style="background-color: {{party color|Meretz}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Israeli Labor Party}}; width: 2.50%"| 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Blue and White (political alliance)}}; width: 27.50%"|33
| style="background-color: #808080; width: 0.83%"| 1
| style="background-color: {{party color|Yisrael Beiteinu}}; width: 5.83%"| 7
| style="background-color: {{party color|Likud}}; width: 30.00%"|36
| style="background-color: {{party color|Shas}}; width: 7.50%"| 9
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Torah Judaism}}; width: 5.83%"| 7
| style="background-color: {{party color|Yamina}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
|}
|-
| [[2021 Israeli legislative election|2021]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Joint List}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: {{party color|Meretz}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: {{party color|Israeli Labor Party}}; width: 5.83%"| 7
| style="background-color: {{party color|Blue and White (political alliance)}}; width: 6.67%"| 8
| style="background-color: {{party color|Yesh Atid}}; width: 14.17%"|17
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Arab List}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|New Hope (Israel)}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: {{party color|Yisrael Beiteinu}}; width: 5.83%"| 7
| style="background-color: {{party color|Likud}}; width: 25.00%"|30
| style="background-color: {{party color|Shas}}; width: 7.50%"| 9
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Torah Judaism}}; width: 5.83%"| 7
| style="background-color: {{party color|Yamina}}; width: 5.83%"| 7
| style="background-color: {{party color|Religious Zionist Party}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
|}
|-
| [[2022 Israeli legislative election|2022]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Hadash}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|Israeli Labor Party}}; width: 3.33%"| 4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Yesh Atid}}; width: 20.00%"|24
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Unity Party (Israel)}}; width: 10.00%"|12
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Arab List}}; width: 4.17%"| 5
| style="background-color: {{party color|Yisrael Beiteinu}}; width: 5.00%"| 6
| style="background-color: {{party color|Likud}}; width: 26.67%"|32
| style="background-color: {{party color|Shas}}; width: 9.17%"|11
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Torah Judaism}}; width: 5.83%"| 7
| style="background-color: {{party color|Religious Zionist Party}}; width: 11.67%"|14
|}
|}

==Knesset assemblies==
Each Knesset session is known by its election number. Thus the Knesset elected by Israel's first election in 1949 is known as the ''First Knesset''. The current Knesset, elected in 2022, is the Twenty-fifth Knesset.

{{div col|colwidth=10em}}
*[[List of members of the first Knesset|1st (1949–1951)]]
*[[List of members of the second Knesset|2nd (1951–1955)]]
*[[List of members of the third Knesset|3rd (1955–1959)]]
*[[List of members of the fourth Knesset|4th (1959–1961)]]
*[[List of members of the fifth Knesset|5th (1961–1965)]]
*[[List of members of the sixth Knesset|6th (1965–1969)]]
*[[List of members of the seventh Knesset|7th (1969–1974)]]
*[[List of members of the eighth Knesset|8th (1974–1977)]]
*[[List of members of the ninth Knesset|9th (1977–1981)]]
*[[List of members of the tenth Knesset|10th (1981–1984)]]
*[[List of members of the eleventh Knesset|11th (1984–1988)]]
*[[List of members of the twelfth Knesset|12th (1988–1992)]]
*[[List of members of the thirteenth Knesset|13th (1992–1996)]]
*[[List of members of the fourteenth Knesset|14th (1996–1999)]]
*[[List of members of the fifteenth Knesset|15th (1999–2003)]]
*[[List of members of the sixteenth Knesset|16th (2003–2006)]]
*[[List of members of the seventeenth Knesset|17th (2006–2009)]]
*[[List of members of the eighteenth Knesset|18th (2009–2013)]]
*[[List of members of the nineteenth Knesset|19th (2013–2015)]]
*[[List of members of the twentieth Knesset|20th (2015–2019)]]
*[[List of members of the twenty-first Knesset|21st (2019)]]
*[[List of members of the twenty-second Knesset|22nd (2019–2020)]]
*[[List of members of the twenty-third Knesset|23rd (2020–2021)]]
*[[List of members of the twenty-fourth Knesset|24th (2021–2022)]]
*[[List of members of the twenty-fifth Knesset|25th (2022–)]]
{{div col end}}

==Tourism==
The Knesset holds morning tours in [[Hebrew]], [[Arabic]], [[English language|English]], [[French language|French]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[German language|German]], and [[Russian language|Russian]] on Sunday and Thursday, and there are also live session viewing times on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.knesset.gov.il/|title=Knesset Times to Visit|work=Knesset.gov.il|access-date=8 September 2011}}</ref>

==Security==
[[File:Knesset Guard P5200034.JPG|thumb|right|120px|upright|A member of the Knesset Guard]]
The Knesset is protected by the [[Knesset Guard]], a [[protective security unit]] responsible for the security of the Knesset building and Knesset members. Guards are stationed outside the building to provide armed protection, and ushers are stationed inside to maintain order. The Knesset Guard also plays a ceremonial role, participating in state ceremonies, which includes greeting dignitaries on [[Mount Herzl]] on the eve of [[Yom HaAtzmaut|Israeli Independence Day]].

==Public perception==
A poll conducted by the [[Israeli Democracy Institute]] in April and May 2014 showed that while a majority of both Jews and Arabs in Israel are proud to be citizens of the country, both groups share a distrust of Israel's government, including the Knesset. Almost three quarters of Israelis surveyed said corruption in Israel's political leadership was either "widespread or somewhat prevalent". A majority of both Arabs and Jews trusted the [[Israel Defense Forces]], the [[President of Israel]], and the [[Supreme Court of Israel]], but Jews and Arabs reported similar levels of mistrust, with little more than a third of each group claiming confidence in the Knesset.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/jews-and-arabs-proud-to-be-israeli-distrust-government/|title=Jews and Arabs proud to be Israeli, distrust government|last=Pileggi|first=Tamar|date=4 January 2015|work=The Times of Israel|access-date=19 November 2025}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Israel}}
*[[Great Assembly]]
*[[Elections in Israel]]
*[[Politics of Israel]]
*[[Knesset Guard]]
*[[Knesset Legal Adviser]]
*[[List of Arab members of the Knesset]]
*[[Lists of Knesset members]]
*[[List of Knesset speakers]]
*[[List of legislatures by country]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website}} {{In lang|en}}

{{Israeli elections}}
{{Knesset members}}
{{Asia topic|Parliament of|title=Parliaments of Asia}}
{{National unicameral legislatures}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|31|46|36|N|35|12|19|E|region:IL_type:landmark|display=title}}

[[Category:Knesset| ]]
[[Category:1949 establishments in Israel]]
[[Category:Legislative branch of Israel]]
[[Category:National legislatures|Israel]]
[[Category:Parliaments by country|Israel]]
[[Category:Unicameral legislatures|Israel]]
[[Category:Hebrew words and phrases]]
[[Category:Seats of national legislatures]]
[[Category:Words and phrases in Modern Hebrew]]