Prime Minister and Paula Ben Gurion at a tree-planting ceremony, Tu Bishvat, 1951

Knesset Speaker Joseph Shprinzak:

The closing of this sitting marks the end of the second year since the establishment of the First Knesset in Israel. I would like to read before you the greetings of the President of the State for the occasion:

"To you, the deputies and the members of the First Knesset, I send my best greetings and regards on the second birthday of our first parliamentary institute.

The great and noble work of the Knesset in our parliamentary lives adds grace and honor to the State of Israel. If this is its beginning, then I have great faith in its continuation and future. Follow your strength and shape the democratic image of our state, for the glory of all generations."     - Chaim Weizmann

Allow me to say a few words before we end this sitting. It has been the second year of the Knesset’s existence. The first year was a year of planting and absorption of a Hebraic house of legislators in our lives. The planting was successful and blessed with fast growth. In its second year, The Knesset was a given fact, as if of an ancient age, and it is found under evaluation, criticism and the demand for outcomes and fruits that were supposed to be already ripe.

The second year was a year of gradual development for the Knesset in its actions of legislation and in determining its parliamentary convention. On the matters of regulations and parliamentary order in the Knesset, regarding what is customary and acceptable by others, our practice is satisfactory in the eyes of outside observers. We have come to know this by positive statements, when Knesset representatives met with representatives of parliaments from different states in the gathering of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Dublin, and in the visit to London, following an invitation from the mother of all parliaments, the English parliament.

This is an external evaluation, but we cannot yet say we have come to a level that is completely satisfactory. However, it is imperative to mark several achievements that are being rooted in our parliamentary work procedures.

We have reached an adequate order in relation to parliamentary questions. Ministerial responses are now given quickly over the dais. And, we are also nearing an agreement on motions for the agenda, as well as adjusting the method for holding discussions in the Knesset.

Our debates reflect the national temperament and the influence of international temperature. It is only natural that the members of Knesset take an active part in the various discussions. Albeit, for saving time and encouraging the Knesset’s work, we have all come to the conclusion that debates and discussions must be condensed and minimized. We have all witnessed the importance of this consolidation from our experience and for bringing greater value to our discussions.

The Knesset's legislative work was largely limited this year, due to extraordinary circumstances and due to the extensive discussions on matters of the day, as well as on critical issues in the life of the state – political, financial and fiscal, and matters of employment, immigrants’ absorption and bringing about the ingathering of the exiles.

Prime Minister and Paula Ben Gurion at a tree-planting ceremony, Tu Bishvat, 1951

It should be noted, concerning legislation, that the Knesset began working on fundamental laws – and not only temporary adjustments to laws that preceded the establishment of the state. It began dealing with legislation that is the outcome of its own free will and in response to its vital needs.

Among the laws approved in the past year is a notable law, short in length, but significant and comprehensive - the Law of Return. We have gone through stages, from the Turkish and British certificates and through the national rebellion of Aliyah Bet, and we have reached a stage that our independence determines the legitimate-historical right of every Jew to be a citizen of the State of Israel.

Throughout the year, we have tested the significant meaning of the Knesset. We have had a governmental crisis, and other temporary crises may arise; but during these, and beyond them, there is a democratic and lawful rule by the people, that acts as a living guarantee for the unity of the state, its existence, its lawful administration and its fortification.

We have sowed a plant on the 15th of Shvat that was acclimatized well. Its safe growth depends on much care and love, unlimited loyalty and deep appreciation of the asset that is named Knesset - the people’s representative and the Israeli house of legislators, serving as a political school for the people and the younger generation.

Thousands of children were busy today with new plantings. From this stage, that was born on the 15th of Shvat, we send our greetings to the plants and the planters – who are the living guarantee for the Knesset and the planting of new lives in the State of Israel.