Knesset Speaker Yitzhak Shamir:

I hereby open the Knesset sitting.

Members of the Knesset, we mark today the 31st birthday of the Knesset, which was on the 15th of Shvat. We are not particular this year on the birthday celebrations, as the ceremony of planting is prevented by the “Shmitta,” and due to the need for cutbacks, we abstained from inviting groups of soldiers and citizens, as we do every year. However, we will remember and remind ourselves without festivities that another year has passed since the establishment of the Israeli house of representatives and that we have begun a new year of the Knesset’s activity on the New Year of the Trees.

I allow myself to express a wish that on the eve of the Knesset’s 32nd year we will set three challenges for ourselves and decide to improve the Knesset’s work in three areas: Motions for the agenda, parliamentary questions, and attendance in the debates. Any improvement in one of these sectors will strengthen and empower the Knesset, and that is the goal of all of us in this house. I suggest that the parliamentary groups and members of this house join together to reach harmonious changes in the form of discussion on motions for the agenda and parliamentary questions. There is a logical connection between the two, as both allow us to have parliamentary supervision over the executive branch, and it is our duty to examine from time to time whether these tools fulfill our goals or whether they are in need of renovations and sharpening.

On the matter of motions for the agenda, and especially on the urgent motions – their increasing number and the opening of the discussion for many speakers on each subject threaten to exceed the Knesset’s time limit, as well as deduct time from the significant issues by an overflow of motions. The procedural fights over the granting of urgency take up much time and draw attention away from the subjects at hand. I call upon the parliamentary groups and their members to overcome minor obstacles and reach, through cooperation, to an agreed-upon arrangement that will allow the members to raise a limited number of urgent motions each week, and that the urgency will be determined by the groups themselves. I have no doubt that such an arrangement will provide an advantage to the parliamentary groups, and even the level of discussions will be raised within this framework.

It is also essential to make an effort and promote a change in the framework of parliamentary questions, which have been discussed for a long time. These changes will allow a fixed number of Knesset members to present questions to government ministers at fixed times. They will be able to present them with questions on all urgent and actual problems of the State, and get answers without waiting for weeks. This will allow us to bring a fresh spirit into discussions, present the public with a dialogue between Knesset members and government ministers, and might even bring about a decrease in the need for motions for the agenda.

Last but not least, a subject that the public speaks of greatly, and often bitterly – the attendance of Knesset members in discussions of the plenum and committees. I am aware of all the excuses explaining one’s absence, and I use them myself, but it is clear to me that just excuses do not justify the low attendance we are witnessing, even in comparison to other parliaments. If it is not done for the sake of the discussion, let us do it for the sake of agitated citizens. We must determine an system, by legislation or by internal agreements, which will ensure reasonable attendance at all times. This will make a significant contribution to raising the image of democracy in our country.

In conclusion, if we succeed in executing changes in these fields during our 32nd year, then it will be a fruitful and successful year in the history of Israeli parliamentarism.

These wishes seem humble to me, and we can attain them.

I bless all the Knesset’s members and employees with a year of achievements and successes, for the promotion and well-being of the State of Israel.