Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin plants trees at Kibbutz Yotvata on Tu Bishvat, 1975

Knesset Speaker Yisrael Yeshayahu:

Mr. President, Members of the Knesset, today, the 15th of Shvat, which is traditionally the New Year of the Trees, is also the day marking 27 years since the establishment of the Knesset, the house of representatives and legislators of the democratic and sovereign State of Israel. In every year that has passed, the Knesset would mark this day as a holiday, except for last year, which was a year of mourning for our precious sacrifices of the Yom Kippur War.

We assumed and took it upon ourselves to renew the marking of this day, as it is worthy to keep and preserve, even under inconvenient circumstances, the continuity of holidays and memorial days that we have set, or instituted, since the establishment of the State. However, our hearts are not open to celebrations at this time. Furthermore, we are obligated, due to present circumstances, to behave in austere ways; and so, since we do not yet have a fixed way in which we mark holidays and memorial days – we saw fit to mark the Knesset’s birthday in two ways:

First – we invited pupils from schools in Safed, Kiryat Shmona, Ma’alot, Beit Shean and Kibbutz Shamir for tree-planting ceremonies in the Knesset’s forest on the periphery of Jerusalem, in memory of those pure souls that were cut short by murderers, and as a symbol of the continuity of our sowing the national land, despite all difficulties.

Second – we have hosted several dozen soldiers from all front lines, members of the Border Police, representatives of the bereaved families, and a group of new immigrants from various countries. They are sitting now in the visitors’ gallery. I greet them on your behalf and wish them good and peaceful lives. Be strong and courageous!

Members of the Knesset, the recent trials we went through have opened our eyes. We see how numerous are those powers who hate us, and don’t accept the existence and borders of the State of Israel. Some of them wish to exterminate it; others wish to take pieces of it, while some wish it malice.

Our withstanding these trials – as in all trials we have had since the War of Independence, and many years before – has proven to both our friends and enemies that the State of Israel is a solid and evident fact, and has the power to push back any threat to its existence, and can say to its enemies and those who wish it malice: "Take counsel together, but it shall come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us."

Millions of Jewish people, in the State of Israel and across the Diaspora, and all that they have - people, fortune, connections and wisdom - they are standing and will stand strong for the peaceful and secure existence of the State of Israel. We derive our strength and power from the deep faith in our right to exist as a free nation in an independent state, that is durable and safe – after all the horrible atrocities we have gone through, throughout all generations and all across the Diaspora, and especially in Europe and the Arab countries.

He who claims that by doing so we commit injustice towards our fellow-men – commits injustice towards us that has no atonement. It is as if he testifies upon himself for misunderstanding the traumatic history of the Jewish people and its decisive will to be saved. He does not value the good deeds we do in this land for all of its inhabitants and those who emigrate to it.

One of the great things we have done in this country is the establishment and fulfillment of a democratic regime, in the form of all democratic rules in the world, and it remains the sole true democratic regime in this region. The fundamental virtue of a democratic-parliamentary rule in Israel, at the height of the War of Independence, and its continuous existence – despite the wars that have not stopped and the crises that we are continuously going through – it is a certification of honor to the people of Israel and the State of Israel.

The Israeli democracy consists not only of general elections, held every few years, but it exists on a daily basis and works in all circles of public life. All are faithful to it, regardless of different points of view. The Knesset is indeed the center and soul of Israeli democracy; it is looked upon with love and awe, its manners are watched and learned. Just as the Knesset is a reflection of the people, so do the happenings among the people reflect the work of the Knesset. It is for this reason that the responsibility entrusted with the Knesset and its members is grand, not only with the subjects discussed in it and its legislation, but also in regard to its conduct and the conduct of its members within the Knesset and outside it.

Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin watches as children plant trees at Kibbutz Yotvata on Tu Bishvat, 1975

Fierce criticism is heard again lately on the Members of the Knesset for their minimal attendance in the plenum discussions. I hereby testify that the Members of the Knesset do their work with dedication and diligence, each in his field of interest and his usual manner; and their attendance in the plenum is only a portion of their work. However, the work of the Knesset must not only be done, but also to be seen, and the people want to see their representatives standing guard. This claim is brought up repeatedly since the television appeared, bringing what is being done here and the lack thereof to every home, moreso than every stenographic protocol. Therefore the attendance in the plenum must be dealt with, with every remedy that can be found.

On the same issue, if we would like to guard the honor and status of the Knesset, and there is no doubt that this is our wish, then we must go through all of the work procedures, the order of agendas and times of sittings and amend all that is in need for correction – the sooner the better.

It appears that the behavior and conduct in the plenum, that is watched from the visitors’ gallery and through television screens, set an example for manners in social and public lives, as well as among schoolchildren.. This too needs to be reviewed.

It is obvious that all that is aimed at Knesset members is also valid towards members of the government; we are all aware that the ministers deal with a great amount of work and responsibility, but it is still worthy of them to dedicate time to the Knesset to the best of their ability; the presence of government ministers in Knesset sittings and their active participation in its discussions are an example for proper parliamentarism.

I would recommend, and even demand, that the ministers prefer to give their notifications to the public through the Knesset, and by doing so – enriching its discussions and increasing the Knesset’s honor, as well as theirs.

The Knesset’s public image, the presence of Knesset members and ministers in its discussions, the manner of its debates - these are all incalculably important, and especially sensed at times of distress and embarrassment.

This house is meant and able to furnish the citizens of Israel with faith and security, judgment and consideration, acceptance of responsibility and willingness to deal with social and economic difficulties, as well as with political and security issues.

That is our duty and so we shall do.
I wish to bless you all, Knesset members and ministers, with a wish of success.

A warm and hearty greeting to the Knesset employees of all ranks.

I will bless all of Israel on your behalf with a wish for peace over Israel and that we shall accomplish the words of the prophet Amos: "I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them."