120 excited Knesset members, 39 of whom are new, will take the oath of office tomorrow (Tuesday) and begin their term as members of the 20th Knesset of the State of Israel. In preparation for the swearing-in of the 20th Knesset, here is a collection of data on the Knesset - from its founding to the present day:
On average, Knesset elections are held every three and a half years.
The longest-serving Knesset was the Third Knesset, which served for four years and four months. In contrast, the Fourth Knesset's term was the shortest - only one year and nine months.
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MK Yosef Sprinzak served as Speaker of the Knesset for approximately 10 years – the longest period in the position of Speaker of the Knesset. Sprinzak served as Speaker from the day the Knesset was established until his death in the middle of the third Knesset. His successor, MK Nahum Nir, served as Speaker of the Knesset for eight months – the shortest period in the position.
MK Nir was the only Knesset Speaker elected to this position from the Labor Unity - Poalei Zion faction, a chairman who was not from the faction that formed the government.
In the 15th Knesset, MK Avraham Borg was elected as Chairman from the 'One Israel' party, but during the Knesset term, special elections were held for Prime Minister, in which Ariel Sharon was elected from the Likud faction.
MK Nahum Nir was elected as the oldest Knesset Speaker at 75 years old. The youngest Speaker was MK Avraham Burg, only 45 years old.
Of the 16 Knesset members who served as Speaker of the Knesset, only one was a woman – MK Dalia Itzik, Speaker of the 17th Knesset.
Yitzhak Shamir was the only Knesset Speaker to be elected Prime Minister after serving as Speaker of the Knesset.
Reuven Rivlin is the only chairman elected after his term as President of the State.
Seven chairmen were elected from the Likud faction, seven from the Labor faction (in several Knessets the faction was called by different names: Yisrael Achat, Labor-Meamed, Hama'arach and Mapai), one from the Kadima faction, and one from the Labor faction - Poalei Zion.
In the 1st, 11th, 12th, and 15th Knessets, the number of factions elected was the largest - 15 factions in each of these Knessets.
In the 8th, 10th, 13th, and 20th Knesset, the number of factions elected was the smallest – only 10.
The 25th government, led by Yitzhak Rabin, and the 26th government, led by Shimon Peres, were composed of only three factions.
The 13th government led by Levi Eshkol and the 29th government led by Ariel Sharon were composed of the largest number of factions – 10 factions.
The 13th government, led by Levi Eshkol, relied on the broadest coalition majority – 111 Knesset members. (On the day of its establishment, it was supported by 75 MKs).
The 17th government led by Yitzhak Rabin and the 24th government led by Yitzhak Shamir relied on the support of 61 members of Knesset.
The government that served the shortest time was the 16th government led by Golda Meir, which served for only less than three months.
Its predecessor, the 15th government, also headed by Golda Meir, had the longest tenure, four years and three months.
The Knesset website provides complete information. Among other things, you can find details of terms and election dates, election results, the composition of lists, factions and governments, Knesset members, significant debates and notable legislation.
Data collection and processing: Shimon Malka, Spokesperson for the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee and the Knesset's Science and Technology Committee
