Knesset Speaker Shlomo Hillel:

Members of the Knesset, how is this day different from any other day? On any other day the Speaker gives the right of speech to others, and on this day he takes it for himself.

I would first like to greet, on your behalf and on my own, members of past Knessets, who came to share with us the Knesset’s birthday despite the wintry weather. It is a fine tradition and the fact that many come to this event teaches us that, beyond political differences, criticism, and door-slamming, the connection to this institution remains an emotional one for past representatives.

On this year, the 40th year since the establishment of the State, we tend to draw conclusions and take inventory. I do not think that there is a nation with so many days of celebration, and yet they constantly look for opportunities for self-examination and review. Albeit, it shows that there is a will to maintain satisfaction from the many accomplishments and successes, and also from the process of renewed self-examination due to continued dissatisfaction.

In the spirit of the above, I am happy to contribute my own summary on this 15th of Shvat the Knesset’s birthday, the last one for the Eleventh Knesset. There is no doubt that this Knesset was, to a great extent, an unusual Knesset in the history of Israel. The National Unity Government, the wide coalition on its differences of opinion, the breaches and contradictions within the government - which seemed at times to contain two opposites, the great storms that it went through so it seemed at times as if the ship will break – all of these reflected its special character, for good and for bad. I will begin with the good:

The fact that this Knesset was successful in creating a government that has made significant decisions in the economic and defense fields – and I do not judge their content – is an accomplishment to me. The members of the house surely remember that after the results of the last elections were made known, many believed that the only option before us was to disperse. The outcome may have been political chaos for a while, at a time that needed significant decisions to be made.

However, we all know that this was not only a National Unity Government, but also a “national parity” government, that burdens the political life and distorts the decision-making process.

Therefore, we can say that, for good or for bad, the Eleventh Knesset has began its last year, and it is worthy for us to review it. I can say that, despite the existence of a wide coalition with a narrow opposition, the Knesset fully – and effectively, at times – exercised its role as the supervisor of the executive branch. This was done not only by Knesset members of the official opposition, but also by those in the coalition.

This Knesset was the first to decide on the establishment of a judicial inquiry commission, on the subject of the fall of the bank stocks. The Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee published its conclusions on the Pollard Affair and pursued further defense issues that were “out of limits” until recently. These are signs of a parliament that is in good health, initiating, keeping track – and I hope it will remain so.

Nonetheless, there has been an unfortunate, and even worrisome, decline in several areas and parliamentary tools – due to the extensive use of them, and even a wholesale use. I will give the example of the no-confidence motions. It would be enough to say that the Eleventh Knesset discussed 150 motions so far, and more than half of them – 67 no-confidence motions – were presented during 1987. There is no doubt that the exaggerated and unsupervised use of this tool, has taken its edge off, which should have been preserved for extraordinary cases. Tomorrow’s dose, by the way, is two no-confidence motions for this upcoming week.

Furthermore, I see myself obligated to criticize a reoccurring phenomenon that the government ministers do not arrive often to the Knesset. This should not be reconciled within a proper parliamentary rule. I have turned to the Prime Minister and ministers in the past, and I do so again from this dais, that they increase their attendance in the Knesset and the plenum. A democratic rule is not measured only during moments of parliamentary crises. Ignoring the Knesset on a regular basis and the frequent phenomenon of a replacement responding on behalf of the government – these do not add any dignity or quality to the discussions of this house, and they are as if cutting down the branch of democracy on which we all sit.

This Knesset has great achievements in the field of legislation, mainly on social issues. The Minimum Wage Law, which was raised several times over the years, was blessed – and we were all blessed – to be ratified in this Knesset. The Nursing Insurance Law, Equal Retirement Age Law, Administrative Offenses Law, amendment to the Penalty Law (exchange of imprisonment with community service), and other laws in many fields that create a respectable contribution to our books of laws and to the setting of social norms. These should be praised and blessed.

A lengthy row of important bills is still on the potter’s wheel, to be completed shortly. I will especially mention the Basic Law: State Comptroller, which will soon become part of our set of basic laws, and the Development Towns Bill, which will provide assistance for the development towns. It was conceived here as a private members’ bill and will be brought for first reading in two weeks.

On the other hand, one should be sorry that several bills, and among them basic laws such as the one for changing the election system, were not promoted for legislation. It would be unfortunate if the Knesset will reach the end of its tenure without completing the legislation of these important bills, and without completing the legislation of the constitution. These bills are within reach and I wish to hope that we will not miss out on a historical opportunity – or perhaps a historical obligation – to commemorate the Eleventh Knesset as the one who completed the preparation of a constitution for Israel.

The current Knesset has dealt persistently, for the first time, with ethical questions of extensive weight, dealing with extra-parliamentary activities and occupations of Knesset members. In the State of Israel, where the public needs to cooperate in the national efforts of economy and defense, the representatives must always examine the role models they present. Whether the feelings of many that too many weeds have grown in our fields and whether it is an exaggeration – it is a fact that the feeling exists, burdens the public and greatly harms the image of the Knesset. There have been past attempts to deal with this phenomenon, but we are yet to find a significant and satisfying solution.

I would like to note with satisfaction that this was the only Knesset to look seriously into the matter of Knesset members’ other occupations. The House Committee set, for the first time, clear criteria that will stand for public judgment. The House Committee also appointed a public committee, headed by the former State Comptroller, attorney Yitzhak Tunik, which prepared a bill, a true codex, for the right and wrong in this matter. The bill will be presented today for its first reading; the Knesset’s birthday is an appropriate time to start a discussion of the Knesset on itself. I hope that the bill will be approved with no delay, as I am convinced that the setting of rules will remove any faults from our public life.

I believe that this Knesset had a great contribution to public hygiene, by volunteering to pass the matters of the wages of Knesset members and their extra-parliamentary occupations into the hands of public committees. One public committee is headed by former State Comptroller, Dr. Yitzhak Neventzal, and the other, as mentioned, by Mr. Yitzhak Tunik.

I am sorry that in one central issue I do not have any good news. The Knesset’s image in the eyes of the public did not improve in recent years, to put it mildly. The joking on this matter, spread in the street, and in many houses and schools, no longer bring a smile, but deep concern. It is caused, or contributed to, by harsh and insulting sayings from the top of the dais or in the media. It often seems that yesterday’s blunt saying becomes today’s norm and the vicious cycle, or to be precise – the vicious spiral, becomes wider.

Moreover, there is no denying that the well-known phenomenon of the attendance of Knesset members in the plenum and the committees is a crucial factor in this matter. As a veteran Knesset member, I am aware that it is true that this is only an esthetical problem and not a meaningful one. However, this esthetical problem is being seen by every home in Israel and brings up criticism, and carries its own weight in the setting of the Knesset’s image. And I have said before: Democracy, as justice, needs not only to be done, but also to be seen.

I hope that the operation of the electronic voting system will contribute to making the situation better. Truthfully, I hoped, and I was promised, that we will be able to operate it today, but I am afraid that it has been postponed again – I hope that not for long – and that it will be installed in the plenum before the Knesset goes on recess. Nevertheless, I do not believe we can have high hopes on electronics. It seems to me that we need a more thorough treatment of this matter.

The continuity of this matter may not only harm the image of the Knesset, but also in the power of our parliamentary democracy. His year we are heading towards elections to the Twelfth Knesset and I allow myself, and even see it as an obligation, to turn today, from this dais, to all the parties in Israel and say that when they determine their lists of candidates for the next Knesset, each in their own method, that they be strict that their candidates are not only good and successful, but also willing and able to devote all of their time to the Knesset and its committees and to the public and political activities that go along with it. Such a change will enable more serious parliamentary work and deepen the roots of the democracy.

There is another issue I feel obligated to bring up today, with an elections year ahead of us. You may say that my words are naïve, but this should be spoken aloud in light of the terrible cost we pay and may continue to pay for making light of democracy and hurting the images of the representatives. Let us make a joint effort of all parties, beyond political differences, to hold these elections and maintain a strict level of argument. We will hold a sharp debate, but only if we respect the opponent. And especially the public we turn to, the level of our message will not be harmed, and we will strengthen and glorify democracy.

Before I conclude, I wish to thank all of the Knesset employees, the ushers and the Knesset Guard, for their good and dedicated work. I believe that especially today we are entitled to be reminded that is through their work, that is being done backstage, when the Knesset is active or late at night when the Knesset is vacant, we can properly commit our work.

I would like to thank the parliamentary reporters, who accompany our work with dedication and persistence in grey and in exciting days.

And another thanks to those Knesset members who maintain our three-year-old tradition to be hosted, in couples, on the day after the Knesset’s celebrations, in the IDF camps, to be with the soldiers and officers, to listen to them and speak with them. I believe that it has great significance these days. To the Knesset members, the commander of the Education Corps and to all the contributors to this success – thank you.

Members of the Knesset, we will adjourn this sitting around 17:30. You are all invited at 18:00 to the ceremony of distribution of the Knesset Speaker’s Quality of Life Prize, which has become a part of the events of the Knesset’s celebrations. It will be followed by a gathering with light refreshments, and will be attended by all our guests and Knesset employees.