17th Knesset

The number of mandates received by parties and blocs - in comparison with the 16th Knesset (by the end of its powers):

• Kadima - 29 (+15)
• Avoda - 20 (-1)
• Shas - 12 (+2)
• Our home - Israel - 11 (+8)
• Likud - 12 (-15)
• Mafdal - Ihud Leumi - 9 (0)
• Party of pensioners - 7 (+7)
• Yahadut HaTorah - 6 (+4)
• Meretz-Yahad - 5 (-1)
• RAAM - TAAL - 3 (0)
• Hadash - 3 (+1)
• BALAD - 3 (0)

Kadima - Meimad

Avoda

Shas

" Our home is Israel "

Likud

MAFDAL - Ihud Leumi

" Gil " - Party of Pensioners

Yahadut HaTorah

Meretz Yahad

RAAM - TAAL

1. Ibrahim Tsartsur
2. Ahmed Tibi
3. Talab al-Sana

Hadash

1. Mohammed Barake
2. Hana Swade
3. Dov Hanin

Balad

1. Azmi Bshara
2. Jamal Zahalka
3. Vasil Taha

The Knesset of the 17th convocation was elected in March 2006, and since then, the 31st Government of the State of Israel, headed by Ehud Olmert, has functioned in it.

The largest party in terms of the number of mandates was the Kadima party . A number of deputies moved to Kadima from the previously existing parties. Thus, the head of government, Ehud Olmert, moved to Kadima from Likud , and his deputy, Shimon Peres (later elected President of the State ), moved to Kadima from the party of Avoda . For the first time in the history of the Knesset, a woman, Dalia Itzik , was elected as Chairman of the Knesset, who also transferred to Kadima from the party of Avoda.

During the 17th Knesset, on the initiative of Dalia Itzik, a new position was introduced - the General Director of the Knesset. Now, the General Director is responsible for the administrative work of the Knesset, and the Secretary of the Knesset is responsible for its parliamentary part.

For the first time in the Knesset, a man has been appointed to the position of chairman of the commission on the status of women - Knesset deputy Gideon Saar . On his initiative, legislation relating to the rights of women in Israel has expanded.

In July 2006, the Second Lebanon War began . The fighting continued from July 12 to August 14, 2006 , when a cease-fire was announced in accordance with a UN Security Council resolution.

The methods of this war have been strongly criticized in Israeli society. After the end of the war, the Winograd Commission was established to verify the correctness of the conduct of hostilities. The final report was filed by the commission in January 2008 . The Knesset was actively involved in these issues.

The work period of the 17th Knesset coincided with the investigation of the case of the 8th President of Israel Moshe Katsav , who is suspected of sexual crimes. Glad meetings were devoted to this issue.

The Knesset has been involved in legal reform issues. This is a serious merit of Professor Daniel Friedman , appointed to the post of Minister of Justice.

In the first two years of the work of the 17th Knesset, state contacts continued between the head of the Israeli government, Ehud Olmert, and the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas . However, no progress was made at the level of state negotiations due to the weakness of the Palestinian Authority led by Fatah , Hamas’s seizure of power in the Gaza Strip , due to ongoing terrorist attacks and Kassam rocket launches from the Gaza Strip in the city of Sderot and other nearby populated areas. points. The Knesset has often discussed the difficulties of achieving a cease-fire, Iran’s growing nuclear weapons .

Despite the global financial crisis that erupted in early 2008, thanks to the well-coordinated work of the Knesset Finance Commission, with the support of the Ministry of Finance and the central bank , Israel’s situation did not worsen, and unemployment even decreased.

The Knesset has dealt with long-term strikes in the education system and at universities that have not led to any significant decisions for a long period.

Among the important laws of the 17th Knesset:

• organ transplant law;
• a law guaranteeing a steady income for those who survived the Holocaust .

The Knesset Ethics Commission continued to work on new ethical standards for deputies, in accordance with the recommendations of the Zamira Commission .

The Law Commission continued to work on the development of the Constitution.

The Knesset Law has been amended, according to which each minister must personally respond to ministerial requests and proposals for an agenda for those related to the work of his ministry. The amendment also ordered ministries to respond to written inquiries from the Knesset information center.

New rules were adopted for lobbyists in the Knesset. ^[2]

In the 17th Knesset, 103 men and 17 women worked. Among them are 13 Russian-speaking deputies.

According to Newsru.co.il

• Knesset website
• 17th Knesset:
  • Story
  • The composition of the fractions
  • Deputies of the 17th Knesset
  • 20 facts about the 17th Knesset