Knesset

The Knesset

הכנסת
الكنيست
The Knesset ; הכנסת; الكنيست
25th Knesset
Type
Type	Unicameral
History
Founded	14 February 1949
Preceded by	Provisional State Council; Assembly of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker	Amir Ohana, Likud ; since 29 December 2022
Prime Minister	Benjamin Netanyahu, Likud ; since 29 December 2022
Leader of the Opposition	Yair Lapid, Yesh Atid ; since 2 January 2023
Structure
Seats	120
Political groups	Government (60) Likud (32); Shas (11); Religious Zionist Party (7); Otzma Yehudit (6); New Hope (4); Opposition (60) Yesh Atid (24); Blue & White National Unity (8); United Torah Judaism (7) Agudat Yisrael (4); Degel HaTorah (3); ; Yisrael Beiteinu (6); Ra'am (5); Hadash–Ta'al (5) Hadash (3) Maki (2); Independent (1); ; Ta'al (2); ; Labor (4); Noam (1);
Elections
Voting system	Closed list proportional representation; D'Hondt method with a 3.25% electoral threshold
First election	25 January 1949
Last election	1 November 2022
Next election	27 October 2026
Meeting place
	Knesset building, Givat Ram, Jerusalem
Website
	Official website

The Knesset (Hebrew: הַכְּנֶסֶת, romanized: HaKneset [haˈkneset] ^ⓘ, lit. 'gathering' or 'assembly'; Arabic: الْكِنِيسِت, romanized: al-Kinīsit) is the unicameral legislature of Israel.

The Knesset passes all laws, elects the president and prime minister, approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government, among other things. In addition, the Knesset elects the state comptroller. It also has the power to waive the immunity of its members, remove the president and the state comptroller from office, dissolve the government in a constructive vote of no confidence, and to dissolve itself and call new elections. The prime minister may also dissolve the Knesset. However, until an election is completed, the Knesset maintains authority in its current composition. The Knesset meets in its building in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.

Members of the Knesset are elected nationwide through proportional representation.