Former MK and Minister Dr. Yosef Burg addresses the Knesset Plenum in honor of the Knesset's 49th birthday, 1998

Knesset Speaker Dan Tichon:

Honorable President, members of Knesset and our distinguished guests, former members of Knesset, on 15th of Shvat, 49 years ago today, the first Constituent Assembly convened for the first time in Jerusalem.

The choice of Jerusalem was clear – an expression of our determination. Despite the city being breached and divided, it is the one and only eternal capital of the people of Israel. Many of those present, and among them the remaining few who served as delegates to the First Zionist Congress and are called our "founding fathers," wiped away their tears. The opening of the first parliament in the State of Israel was a realization of a generations-long dream – the realization of Israeli sovereignty with a democratic regime.

Two days later, the Constituent Assembly reconvened to change its name to the "Knesset." Members of the house were given the name "Knesset members."

The new Knesset began immediately to deal with debates and legislation. Its earliest months of were tough. The First Knesset ratified the Armistice Agreements with the Arab nations, which brought the end of the War of Independence; the Law of Return was approved; and it was also determined that there will be no smoking in the plenum hall, and that speeches will be made from dais. However, the Knesset was first and foremost handling immigrant absorption – the great Zionist challenge that was hoped for like a miracle. The vision had turned into reality, and the Knesset was made into a stage for presenting the difficulties facing the young state. This was the time of the genesis.

Since then, in peace times as in times of war, year after year, the Knesset held its sittings in order, and they are recorded in the light blue volumes of the Knesset Minutes ("Divrei HaKnesset").

We have had 14 Knessets, each one different from the other. The founding generation is already gone, and approximately one-third of the members in the current Knesset were born after the establishment of the state. The Fourteenth Knesset, like its predecessor, is living proof that a turnabout, the shifting of power in our political history, is not an isolated incident nor a political earthquake, but merely a part of the democratic process.

Members of the Knesset, the present Knesset has marked a new path. The Prime Minister is no longer elected through the confidence of the Knesset, but of the right bestowed upon him by the people. This system has a deep impact on the Knesset. However, it seems to me that not everyone has grown accustomed to the constitutional change, and the differences of opinion regarding its success remain.

Former MK and Minister Yitzhak Ben-Aharon addresses the Knesset Plenum in honor of the Knesset's 49th birthday, 1998

The fixed routine of no-confidence motions in the government might continue, but the government cannot be overthrown any longer by a regular majority of Knesset members; even if 60 MKs will vote against it, it will not fall – as a majority of 61 is needed. But the Knesset is not owned by the government; any government.

The election system has broken the superiority of the large parties. Small parties feel the power that has been given to them and have learned to use it. They represent specific interests and fight to achieve them.

The current Knesset reflects the ethnic streams within the Israeli public. The representatives come from many countries of origin. We have an immigrants’ party, a Sephardic orthodox party, an orthodox party of Ashkenazi character, and of course Arab political parties. The representation of Arab citizens is larger than in the past.

The Knesset has a mix of languages in it. If Yiddish and Polish were common once in the cafeteria, one may hear today sounds of other foreign languages.

A myth that has since been shattered construed that the Knesset is a rubber stamp for the government. The power of the parliamentary branch is getting stronger, and it even dictates some of the government’s moves. The window of opportunities is growing larger.

The legislative work is the "spoken language" of the Knesset. It was once highly defined by the government, becoming more and more today the private initiative of Knesset members.

Gentlemen, members of the Knesset, I am extremely concerned with the decreasing public image of our house of representatives. The phenomenon of an unoccupied plenum is being dragged like a hump from one Knesset to another. The media exposes this poor image, and we make efforts to change this status and image. This is not a unique phenomenon for the house of representatives in the State of Israel. However, when the British Parliament has 50-60 participants from among its 630 delegates, it still has presence. When only four or five members of the Knesset report to a sitting, the plenum seems empty and dull. Many complaints are brought before me. I would like the Prime Minister to visit the Knesset plenum more often, and for the ministers to show more presence in the plenum and in the committees, especially in matters related to their ministries.

The Knesset is the center of democracy. The culture of debate in the Knesset is often criticized by the media and public. It is a pity that discussions are often influenced by street language. I believe that a discussion in the Knesset that is covered by the media is not a discussion held in a coffee shop, and it must maintain the dignity of the parliament.

The public eye is looking up towards us. We are all partners in the uplifting the image of the Knesset. We are not immune to criticism. We have come from the people and we will go towards the people. The credibility of the Knesset, which is synonymous to the credibility of the democratic system, depends on us. Our agenda will soon discuss some of the most difficult political decisions in the history of the state. There are differences of opinion. There are deep moral arguments. We will be facing turbulent political struggles, and one can also say they are fascinating ones. We will conduct this duel out of mutual respect to one another.

I call us all on this day of celebration to be careful from causing any decline in the status of the Knesset. This house symbolizes the sovereignty and the democracy we all take pride in. We shall guard it from any harm. Anything is possible, as almost anything is in the power of the Knesset, the citizens and the government.