Knesset Speaker Shevach Weiss:

Members of the Knesset, the 15th of Shvat, the New Year of the Trees, is also the holiday of the Knesset.

The Constituent Assembly convened 47 years ago for its first sitting. It later became the First Knesset and ever since, the Knesset marks this day as its birthday.

We expressed the festivity of this day in several ways: We opened an important exhibition, an exhibition of photos describing the great fire in the forests on the way to Jerusalem and the beginning of their rehabilitation, with all the symbolism associated with that traumatic event. A short time ago we planted trees in the Knesset Forest, on Mount Scopus, with the participation of numerous Knesset members. It was done of course as part of the noble actions of the Jewish National Fund. We hosted there representatives of youth movements, the Scouts, and the wonderful members of “Kav LeChaim” who assist in the rehabilitation of children with fatal diseases. Together we planted the trees and read the Prime Minister’s greeting.

We have decided, out of a long list of subjects that were brought onto the Plenum’s agenda, to discuss two subjects today: One is the subject suggested by MKs Silvan Shalom, Rafael Eitan, Shaul Gutman, Avraham Ravitz, Zevulon Hammer, Raanan Cohen, Salah Tarif and Moshe Katsav – it was in October 1995, at the opening of this session. The subject was: Determining fair and civilized rules for arguments during an election year – a subject that has become relevant these days, as the air is full of the pre-election atmosphere. Another subject was presented by our friend, Deputy Speaker Ovadia Ali, on November 15th 1995, following the Prime Minister’s murder: Honoring fellow-men and the culture of debate in the state. We will conduct an integrated discussion, as many MKs registered to speak. I think we will do it in a five-minute frame, as it seems reasonable and enables a diverse discussion.

I would like to open and note that despite the fact that the Knesset has a not-so-positive image, it is a part of the common folklore in all democratic regimes. The Knesset is a very active parliament, very vibrant; it is the core of Israeli democracy, and here are represented all sectors of the public. It is the Israeli electoral system that allows a very wide representation of the political spectrum, between 10 to 15 parties. I would say that all the public’s wishes following elections, in which approximately 80% of the Israeli citizens take part…

MK Moshe Katzav:
Without being cynical, if all segments of the populace were represented here…

Knesset Speaker Shevach Weiss:
Indeed, we always take a snapshot of the situation on elections day…

MK Moshe Katzav:
Those same votes that didn’t pass the qualifying threshold.

Knesset Speaker Shevach Weiss:
Our qualifying threshold is the lowest threshold in the democratic world, and it was even lower in the past Knesset. It was 1% and now it is 1.5%. The customary qualifying threshold is around 4-5%, in Egypt it is 8% and in many democratic countries it is 5%, and the regional electoral system is such that many medium and small sized parties do not usually get representation in parliament.

Our system provides a very wide representation, the classical relative system. Here we determine highly important decisions by voting, in a voting mechanism, and the story of Israeli democracy is a big success story. The historical background, the tension, the historical decisions, our temperament, our tough lives, the wars we have been through and the peace we are making, which was widely accepted though in part with harsh differences of opinion – it is all done under the framework of democratic rules.

We continue to study the position of the First Knesset, the Constituent Assembly, and continue to aim for our constitution, and I believe that we will complete this process during the next term.

We may need to hold several reforms in the structure of the committees, if it were possible to decrease their size and require that a Knesset member is not a member of more than one or two committees; the work at the committees would be more effective, but even today there is significant work being done there.

I will only say one thing: Despite the fact that here and there we are viewed as though we have a collective defect on this eve of elections, whoever looks onto the thousands of people who wish to be elected to this house – of all professions, in all parties, of all social elites – the military, academy, workers’ unions, different organizations – this fact alone demonstrates that this house is covete, many wish to come here, to serve here, to fill a mission and influence our future.