Israel’s twenty fourth Knesset to be sworn in amid menace of fifth election

The swearing in of the twenty fourth Knesset started Tuesday afternoon underneath the looming menace of a fifth election and simply hours after President Reuven Rivlin tapped Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the mandate to kind the subsequent coalition. 

In his speech, Rivlin lamented that he presided over six Knessets in his seven-year time period. He broke out in tears when describing the divisiveness in Israeli society. 

“If we is not going to be sensible sufficient to discover a mannequin of partnership that may allow us to dwell right here collectively in mutual respect and real shared dedication to one another, our nationwide resilience will likely be in actual hazard,” Rivlin warned. 

Rivlin stated the general public expects management from its MKs they usually haven’t obtained it.

“The Israeli folks is trying to you and expects every one in all you to indicate management that’s devoted to the folks and their values, however that additionally is aware of learn how to mark boundaries and present the best way,” Rivlin stated. “They deserve management that’s assured in its path, however that sees ideological rivals not because the enemy, heaven forbid, however as potential companions. They want management that, within the ambiance of tribalism, is aware of learn how to steer away from separatism and alienation, which can be applicable for the marketing campaign path, however are harmful on the subject of constructing a rustic and main a folks.”

Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin additionally known as on MKs to cease boycotting one another and warned of risks if they don’t. 

However when the swearing in started, Joint Listing MKs Ayman Odeh, Sami Abou Shahadeh, Aida Touma-Sliman and Ofer Cassif stated they have been dedicated to struggling in opposition to racism as an alternative of pledging their loyalty as MKs. They left the plenum earlier than the singing of the nationwide anthem “Hatikva.”

When Non secular Zionist Social gathering MK Itamar Ben-Gvir was sworn in, Meretz MK Tamar Zandberg shouted “disgrace.”Non secular Zionist MK Itamar Ben-Gvir is seen on the inauguration of the twenty fourth Knesset, on April 6, 2021. (Picture credit score: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Submit)

The ceremony was missed by Ra’am (United Arab Listing) chief Mansour Abbas, who was hospitalized at Poriya Hospital because of a well being drawback.

New Hope MK Sharren Haskel was sworn in holding her child Yael, who was born in October after an extended, public battle with infertility. 

The Knesset started the method of returning to its pre-pandemic guidelines, permitting company to attend the swearing-in ceremony and to sit down within the guests’ gallery for the primary time because the novel coronavirus arrived in Israel. It was the primary time the guests’ gallery was occupied in additional than a 12 months. Yamina MK Ayelet Shaked is seen on the inauguration of the twenty fourth Knesset, on April 6, 2021. (Picture credit score: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Submit)

Every of the 120 MKs within the twenty third Knesset was allowed to ask one visitor, who was permitted to participate within the particular ceremonies of the day.  Whereas the rule change was supposed for spouses, veteran Yesh Atid MK Elazar Stern introduced as his visitor anti-Netanyahu protest chief Amir Haskel. 

The ceremony started with the arrival of the brand new MKs. Every had a flower pinned to their jacket or costume after which had their picture taken. The Knesset Guard greeted the members with an honor guard overseen by Levin.Labor chief Merav Michaeli is seen on the inauguration of the twenty fourth Knesset, on April 6, 2021. (Picture credit score: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Submit)

Yisrael Beytenu chief Avigdor Liberman is seen on the inauguration of the twenty fourth Knesset, on April 6, 2021. (Picture credit score: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Submit)As a part of Levin’s guidelines limiting the media, the Knesset press corps has not been allowed within the plenum or Knesset committee conferences. The Knesset fitness center is open to MKs even when they haven’t been vaccinated, however closed to the press corps, even when they’ve a inexperienced passport.