Invitation to a festive lunch in honor of the Knesset's birthday, Tu Bishvat 1983

Knesset Speaker Menachem Savidor:

From this podium, I would first like to welcome the chairpersons of the local authorities who are with us here today. We are honored to host them today on the Knesset’s birthday.

The Knesset’s holiday is a holiday of democracy in Israel. In the pre-state period, the Israeli democracy began in the local authorities. Israel’s self-rule as formed in the pre-state period and its foundations are found in local councils, where good governance and democratic foundations were laid, as well as providing the growth of leadership, alongside that formed within the World Zionist Organization, the Assembly of Representatives and the National Council. These were the representatives of the organized Jewish community vis a vis the British Mandate and the world. They fiercely and proudly represented the people in Zion.

It seems that since the establishment of the state and the formation of the central authorities, as I have said before, the status of the local authorities decreased, as well as its influence on our lives. Furthermore, there is no detailed, inclusive law that defines duties, responsibilities and authorities held by the local councils and their chairpersons.

Did we – and this is a question I present before this forum – go in the direction of decreasing the autonomy given to local councils, or have we gone towards its expansion? Is there room to separate between the duties of a mayor and the person chairing the local council, in accordance with the separation of powers between the legislative and executive authorities? Is it proper to change the electoral system of local authorities to a regional system, and maybe later adapt this system of elections for the central authorities? Will there be an increase in the budgetary and financial dependence of the local authorities in the central authorities, causing greater increase in the authorities’ dependence and decreasing autonomy, or should we look for other ways and means to increase their autonomy and reduce the dependence between the authorities?

Members of the house, dignitaries, mayors and heads of local and regional councils. These matters and similar affairs concerning the relations between the local and central authorities and between the Knesset and the executive authority, these are worthy for discussion and consideration, especially on this day of celebration for the Knesset, a day of contemplation on democracy and its components. I wish us all a fruitful and interesting discussion.

In accordance with the framework set by the House Committee, I invite the first speaker, MK Aharon Nahmias, who is also the mayor of Tzfat, and he will be followed by MK David Magen, who is the mayor of Kiryat Gat.