Knesset Speaker Reuven Barkat:

Members of the Knesset, as we progress towards the end of this sitting, allow me to engage in a tradition that has been set by our distinguished predecessors and say a few words honoring the birthday of the Knesset which turned 21 on the 15th of Shvat.

We have two standards for measuring time: On the one hand – an account of centuries; and on the other – an account starting from a renewed beginning. And so we count: One by one, year by year. Our political independence is still very tender of age, and each year is a year of trial and progress for us. Therefore we shall keep counting the years, until they meet with the chain of generations.

This combination of past and present symbolizes the historical trail of our people – worldly, living people, despite all tragedies and holocausts that we have encountered, we live in a pious faith that the eternity of Israel shall not be false.

Simultaneously, our people are found constantly in a daily awesome struggle for their existence and future. In this struggle we see the toughening of the people’s spirit and the garnering of qualities and resources that prepare us for the trials ahead of us – to remain standing and victorious.

The holiday of the Knesset is also the holiday of Israeli democracy, an ancient one that has been renewed with the establishment of the state. The Knesset was imbued with the people’s authority to determine law styles of a revised society that is based, as it says in the Compulsory Education Law, "on liberty, tolerance, mutual aid and the love of mankind." The Knesset derives its authority from the people, and it must serve as an example for responsibility and unity.

The Seventh Knesset is still new, as it was elected in a majority vote and it is too early to evaluate its actions since its founding on November 17th 1969. Nevertheless, there is testimony to the heavy and unique mission that is incumbent on this Knesset, if we remember that its first discussion was dedicated to the fate of Soviet Jewry.

One of the first laws approved by this Knesset was the Israel Defense Forces Decorations Law. Some of the debates that summarize this short period include those on the prosecuted Jewish communities in Arab lands, and today’s sitting was opened with a discussion on the State Comptroller Law. It is aimed at providing every citizen of the State an address for complaints, for demanding the correction of distortions, for hearing the cries of the individual, and for deepening the affinity between the citizen and the state.

We may learn from the above that this Knesset had started from its very beginning to discuss fundamental issues of our state. Let us hope that throughout its time it will dedicate itself to uplifting the work of this house, through amendments and improvements.

With us here today are new immigrants that recently came to us from 27 countries, both prosperous and underdeveloped, and some of which are not in far distance from our borders. In our meeting with them today they expressed their excitement and all of their longings for this country and its higher institution – the Knesset.

We have also had with us today high-school students from Jerusalem, who gave us their blessings; and we have with us soldiers from different units. We shall send to them our warm regards: Be strong and of courageous.

Our hearts ache, for this day of celebration is shadowed by disaster and grief.

We shall therefore carry prayers in our hearts for peace to come, for hatred to be no more, for bloodshed to stop, and for our country to continue developing, prospering and building itself uninterruptedly for a new mankind, love for people and for it to be a global wonder.