Knesset Speaker Yitzhak Berman:

I hereby open this Knesset sitting. Members of the Knesset, this day should be marked for three reasons.

On this day, 32 years ago, the Constituent Assembly convened in Jerusalem, later to become the First Knesset. The democratic regime, which was the legacy of the World Zionist Organization and of the Assembly of Representatives in the Jewish Community of Eretz Yisrael, had served as the foundation for today’s Knesset. Fair and free elections were held in the young state, even before the end of the War of Independence and while a sixth of the population was wearing uniforms. From then on, during times of war and restfulness, the sequence goes on: A Knesset comes and a Knesset goes, a government begins and a government ends. The democratic parliamentary rule is fixed in the public consciousness, and we, the public’s representatives, are obliged to keep it from any harm.

Today is also the holiday of agriculture in Israel, and the Knesset celebrates its birthday on the New Year of the Trees. Since the beginning of the settlement in Eretz Yisrael, an old tradition was renewed, and every year the children of Israel go out, plant trees, cause the wilderness to blossom, and cover wide parts in forests.

We are glad that on this day we welcome the first Egyptian parliamentary delegation, visiting the country a guest of the Knesset. It is chaired by Professor Abdullah, who is prominent in the younger generation of Egyptian leadership, a member of the generation that will enjoy the fruits of our efforts for peace.

More than three years had passed since the grand occasion, when on this podium spoke the President of Egypt, Anwar el-Sadat. Over these years a peace agreement had been signed between Israel and Egypt, and important gestures have been made to normalize the relations of the two states. The negotiations for autonomy, agreed upon in the Camp David Accords, are yet to be concluded, but the drive for peace has not been interrupted and it continues to grow with time, as both sides are obliged to its realization. The Egyptian parliamentary delegation is of great importance to this achievement. It signifies the start of process to form relations between the parliaments of both states, in addition to those developed by our governments – and it is highly significant and valuable as the negotiations go on.

Our guests are aware that Members of the Knesset from all parties wish peace with all their hearts. Some believe that Israel is making great sacrifices for peace, but most of us believe that it is worthwhile.

The Knesset, with all its groups, is united in its greetings of welcome and for the benefit and prosperity of Egypt, the state of our guests.

On behalf of the Knesset, I wish our guests a nice stay in our country. I hope that this first contact between parliaments will evolve into a close relationship and serve as another cause for true peace.